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Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper
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founded in 1808
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: a DAY ETCHED IN OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 217, No. 37
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, September 11, 2025
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Board Recognizes Firefighters, Discusses Future Strategic Planning Transparency By BILL BELLEN
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OTSEGO COUNTY efore the September Otsego County Board of Representatives meeting even began, there was already business to attend to. A special meeting of the Public Works Committee was held prior to the main meeting to address two matters at hand. First, Otsego County Highway
Superintendent Richard Brimmer requested a motion for approval to acquire two small properties off of County Highway 58A at a price not to exceed $11,000.00. Brimmer cited an ongoing bridge replacement project as the reason for the purchase, which was subsequently approved by the committee. Next, there was a request for a late resolution to be added to the board’s agenda, to enter into agree-
ment with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for an energy efficiency and conservation block grant, supplied by federal funds and totaling $603,273.60. Part of this funding would be used to complete an audit of the Meadows Office Complex utilized by multiple Otsego County departments to find recommendations for improvement. Continued on page 11
Community Turns Out for Meeting on Manocherian Subdivision
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PIERSTOWN ore than 100 concerned citizens attended a standing-room only meeting on Sunday, September 7 at the Pierstown Grange. Prompted by the proposed major subdivision of 1,500 acres of farmland, forest, and wetlands on the west side of Otsego Lake, Otsego 2000, Otsego Land Trust, Otsego County Conservation Association, and the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station held the meeting to hear from community members and then to amplify their comments. “We wanted to hear directly from residents to see what type of development they wanted for the area,” said Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000. While many comments and concerns were voiced about the Manocherian subdivision INSIDE ► DOG DAY AT SQSPCA SHOWCASES CANINES, page 2 ► MOHAWK VALLEY GIVES: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NONPROFITS, page 3 ► TRUST IN MEDIA DEPENDS ON ACCURATE REPORTING, page 4 ► hYDE HALL: A STAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY, page 5 ► HOF TO TELL STORY OF LATINO BASEBALL PLAYERS, page 6 ► ONEONTA GEARS UP FOR FESTIVAL, page 6 Follow Breaking News On
proposal, which would create 111 buildable lots ranging in size from 4.2 acres to 60 acres, there was a broader discussion about what community members envision for the future of the area. “We want to know what the community’s priorities and parameters for development are,” said Gregory Farmer, executive director of the Otsego Land Trust, who moderated the 90-minute discussion. Pope opened the meeting, explaining that the three environmental organizations and the BFS work collaboratively on issues of environmental concern, and emphasized that Otsego 2000’s role is to ensure that proposed development projects are compatible with the region’s environmental capacity and community character. Shelby MacLeish, OCCA
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Retired SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Director Bill Harman addresses the crowd at the September 7 meeting on the proposed Manocherian subdivision. The meeting was organized by Otsego 2000, Otsego Land Trust, Otsego County Conservation Association and the BFS.
assistant director, spoke about her organization’s scientific approach to water protec-
tion. Farmer outlined OLT’s mission, and the role of planning and environmental protec-
tion. Florian Reyda, director of the BFS, which borders the Continued on page 11
CGP Grad Weighs In on New Role at the Chamber By DARLA M. YOUNGS
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COOPERSTOWN s of the first week of June, Deanna Nicolari is the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce’s new operations coordinator. Not to be confused with Deanna Smith, as we inadvertently identified her in the July 10, 2025 installment of “News from the Noteworthy…” “This job truly is a bit of everything,” Nicolari wrote in an e-mail recently. “Social media, answering phones, helping visitors,
Photo provided
DEANNA NICOLARI
planning events, sending e-mails, mailing promotional material, helping members with their benefits, chatting with people
in town who stop to say hi. The list could go on!” Nicolari earned her bachelor’s degree in history at SUNY Oneonta in 2022. After taking a year off to work, she then attended the Cooperstown Graduate Program where, in 2025, she earned a master of arts in museum studies with a concentration in history. “I took an interest in development work and saw the chamber as a great way to put my skills to the test,” Nicolari said. “Nonprofit work is the core of what CGP teaches, for those
who think that museum work has nothing to do with the chamber.” “The chamber is thrilled to have Deanna on the team,” said CoVice President Cassandra Harrington. “It’s a win for everyone when Cooperstown Graduate Program alumni remain in the community. She has been a great addition to this organization that strives to support the local business community.” First and foremost, Nicolari said, she loves helping others. “Problem solving is at the core of this job. But
mostly, being a seasoned multi-tasker who loves running to do the next thing has proven to be beneficial here,” she said of her new position. Nicolari said she recently became engaged “and discovered that wedding planning is harder than it looks!” She and her fiancé live just outside the Village of Cooperstown with their cat, Tony. “In my spare time, I write short stories, go antiquing, go fishing with my fiancé, and am an avid music lover. Continued on page 10
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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