The Freeman's Journal 07-23-26

COOP M IA

1808 BY

E WIL

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

OUNDED

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founded in 1808

Hall of Fame INDUCTION WEEKEND INFORMATION, pages 2, 3 and 6 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 218, No. 30

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, July 23, 2026

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Watershed Committee Reviews Ongoing Wakeboard Boat Concerns, Septic Progress By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST

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COOPERSTOWN he Otsego Watershed Supervisory Committee moved through a wide-ranging agenda last week, addressing renewed concerns over wakeboard boat activity, steady progress on septic inspections, ongoing confusion surrounding the Willow Brook dredging project, and questions about the manner in which harmful algal bloom alerts should be shared with the public. The meeting on July 15 underscored how several long-running issues continue to evolve, often in

ways that complicate earlier assumptions. Wakeboard boat activity dominated early discussion, with committee members noting that misinformation continues to circulate on social media. To counter that, Village of Cooperstown staff plan to distribute a verified graphic and explanation through both social media channels and the “Village Voices” newsletter. The most striking update came from committee member Paul Lord, who described two recent incidents he observed in which wakeboard boats generated unexpectedly large waves despite appearing to operate well Continued on page 8

Renaissance Man Bill White Among Baseball Greats To Be Honored By CHARLIE VASCELLARO

COOPERSTOWN his year’s Hall of Fame Induction Class and awardwinners includes a potpourri of former players, broadcasters, and one baseball-lifer, representing a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences leading to their shared destination at the National Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend. In a multi-faceted career spanning five decades, Bill White—this year’s recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award— is a true baseball renaissance man. “Bill White’s lifetime of service made him one of the most respected figures in baseball, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to present him with the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Jane Forbes Clark, chair of the board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “His work as an AllStar player, pioneering executive and beloved broadcaster built a legacy of INSIDE

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excellence that we are honored to celebrate in Cooperstown.” A six-time All-Star and seventime Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman during his 13-year Major League career, White—who turned 92 this past January—is equally wellknown as a longtime play-by-play broadcaster for the New York Yankees and as the first Black president of the National League. While attending Hiram College in Ohio, where he played on the baseball team while enrolled in the school’s premed program, White was signed by the New York Giants prior to the 1953 season. He joined the team for spring training in Phoenix and was assigned to the team’s Class B minor league affiliate in Danville, Virginia, where he Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos was the second Black player to desegBaseball player, broadcaster and executive Bill White is this year’s Buck O’Neil Award winregate the Carolina League. ner. He and others will be honored in a ceremony on Saturday, July 25. He made his major league debut with the Giants on May 7, 1956 and hit of 1958 and saw limited action with the rest of his playing career. 22 home runs with 59 RBI and a .256 the team, participating in 26 games. At White immediately excelled in St. batting average in 138 games. After the end of spring training in 1959, he Louis and was selected to the first of missing the 1957 season while serving was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in six straight All-Star teams. Perhaps Continued on page 8 in the military, White returned in July a life-altering move that would define

Sixth Ward Prepping for Friday’s Tennis Court Dance By PEYTON CARTER

ONEONTA or one evening each summer, the tennis court in Oneonta’s Sixth Ward becomes more than just a playing surface in need of repair, bringing together generations of current and former residents to celebrate the neighborhood’s history and the community spirit that has defined the enclave for decades. The annual “Sixth Ward Shindig”—set for Friday, July 24 and now in its second year since being revived in 2025—traces its roots back to the 1960s, when neighborhood volunteers organized dances to raise money for community projects. Those events helped fund the construction of lights for the softball field and supported the creation of the Sixth Ward Athletic Club. According to organizers of the revival, proceeds from those early dances also contributed to the purchase of the former River Street School property, which was later sold to help finance the athletic club. The original series of tennis court dances ended in July 1967, Photo by Maria Griswold becoming a cherished memory for generations of Sixth Ward Frank Russo, Becky Thomas and Dr. John Nader pose in front of the main Continued on page 8 banner during last year’s Sixth Ward Shindig.

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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