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cooperstown veterans’ stories compiled in new book, page 8 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 217, No. 29

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, July 17, 2025

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Panel Offers Sobering Information About Expected Impacts of ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ By TERESA WINCHESTER

Public t-baseba:ll7/19, 11-3 | -a k o o -l s t r A-fine-a 8, 5-7 |Sat. hours ed. The Art Previewd7u/1ction Weekend eSachdow Road, See In e 689 Beaver M n Garag Cooperstow

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MORRIS n Thursday, July 10, the community room at the Morris Fire Department was filled to the brim, and attendees even spilled into the open space between the fire house and Guy

Rathbon Park. Organizers estimated 80 people in attendance. The occasion was a public forum titled “Effects of the 2025 Federal Budget on Services in Otsego and Chenango Counties,” organized by an hoc group calling itself “Butternut Valley Neighbors.” Principal organizers

were Tracey Hall, Sarai Halliday, Andrea Hull, Arlene Martin and Anna Niedzielski, all residents of various municipalities in Otsego County’s Butternut Valley. The informational forum was prompted by concerns over changes to social and healthcare services taking effect as a result of the

recent enactment of the federal budget, officially titled the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Making up the panel were Tanya Shalor, chief executive officer of Opportunities for Otsego; Maggie Johnson, executive director of Community Cupboard of Edmeston; Continued on page 11

Village Celebrates Selection of New Logo By DARLA M. YOUNGS

COOPERSTOWN ttendees at the “Welcome Home Cooperstown” monthly meet and greet on Tuesday, July 1 were treated to a first look at the village’s new logo, as officials announced the winner of its logo contest and unveiled the new graphic. A panel of judges including individuals from the Cooperstown Art Association, Fenimore Graphic provided Art Museum, the Village of Celeste Leone designed the new logo Cooperstown Library, and the recently adopted by the Village of National Baseball Hall of Fame Cooperstown. and Museum were asked to provide feedback on the 12 designs that first choices! And gave the rationale for their selections.” were submitted. “The individuals from those According to Deputy Mayor organizations all worked inde- Cindy Falk, that feedback pendently and submitted their was received and reviewed by responses individually,” explained the village’s Community and Photo by Cindy Falk Mayor Ellen Environment Committee, which Despite the threat of rain, Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Til- Cooperstown Tillapaugh. “Which was interdetermined the finalists based on lapaugh was able to unveil the village’s new logo on the esting, as they all chose different the panel’s input. steps in front of the Village Hall on Tuesday, July 1. INSIDE ► transpacific baseball exhibit opens at BHof, page 2

This process helped officials narrow the logo options down to half a dozen, from which four finalists were chosen in a “blind” review. The artists— whose identities were unknown to the judges—were then given the opportunity to make minor changes in their designs if they wanted to, based on the feedback from the selection committees, Tillapaugh said. The Village Board of Trustees made the final decision from those amended designs, tapping Oneonta resident Celeste Leone for the win. According to Tillapaugh, the Welcome Home Cooperstown gathering proved to be the perfect setting for the announcement. “The WHC events attract many people and the setting in front of Village Hall can’t be beat,” she elaborated. “As it turned out, the Continued on page 8

Pro Football Hall of Fame Nominees Honored at Luncheon

way was Georgia Meeter, designated cohost of the luncheon. The COOPERSTOWN pair looked to bolster the effort for ► berent, butler take top Jones’ and Kemp’s nominations by his past Friday, July 11, the prizes in writing employing Patricia Slater’s artistic Kingfisher Tower Room at competition, page 3 specialties to create tribute paintings The Otesaga Resort Hotel of each player—the same pictures ► caiazza: CLCPA costs in Cooperstown was bustling with unacceptable, page 4 featured in nearly all of the event’s activity. A crowd of roughly 40 marketing. people of all ages and backgrounds ► MARKER ACKNOWLEDGES Aiding in this publicity push were gathered upon invitation by Army IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC Ben Berin and Nick Stockwell, two veteran and football enthusiast CABOOSE, page 7 young men Hugos hired as interns Andy Hugos to attend this unique ► OTSEGO COUNTY OFFERS to enhance the public outreach of ceremony commemorating the VAST ARRAY OF VISTAS FOR the movement and to put together a nomination of Homer Jones and VISITING, page 9 presentation on the nominees for the Jack Kemp to the Pro Football Photo by Maria Griswold gathering itself. ► THINGS TO DO AND PLACES Hall of Fame. Ernie Koy and Charles Dumas help Patricia Slater hold up one of TO GO, page 12 The nomination process for the The second luncheon of a now- Slater’s paintings celebrating Homer Jones in the New York Giants uniform (#45) and Jack Kemp in the Buffalo Bills uniform (#15). Pro Football Hall of Fame is rather annual tradition, this celebration Follow Breaking News On unique. Anyone is able to nominate was used to highlight the careers of such mentor figures have on individuals. both men, their impact on their families and Hugos worked with a closely knit team a player or coach, as long as they have been people across the nation, and the importance to put on this event. By his side the whole Continued on page 6 By BILL BELLEN

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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