The Freeman's Journal

USDA-Approved Larry’s Meats Enables Wide Sale Of Local Cuts

2011-05-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : HARTWICK

The crowd listening to the speeches couldn’t help but be distracted by the aroma wafting across the front of Larry’s Custom Meats’ smart new building just south of the hamlet on Route 205.
The distraction came from a grill where John Van Vranken Jr. of Edmeston was slow-cooking a whole pig. Soon, everyone knew, tender chunks of pork would be piled high in the serving dishes, ready to be piled high in the hoagie rolls.
Let’s not talk about the baked beans, or cole slaw, or potato salad and, certainly, not the cookies.
We digress, but isn’t that really what Larry’s Custom Meat is all about? Good food for the eating?
The dignitaries under the new sign included USDA Rural Development State Director Jill Harvey, state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, co-proprietors Larry and Julia Althiser of New Lisbon, Otsego County Chamber President Rob Robinson and Bank of Cooperstown President Scott White, who provided some of the financing.
The Rev. Jay Henderson, who preaches from several pulpits in the Burlington and Edmeston area and is administering a successful school in that area, blessed the Althisers’ undertaking.
“When agriculture is doing well, Upstate is doing well,” Seward added in his remarks.
Then the Althisers, with big shears, cut the red ribbon across the doorway and led the first round of tours inside.
Among those in the applauding crowd was Dana Mockoviciak, a USDA inspector, who explained that, until now, farmers could bring their livestock to Larry’s Custom Meats’ former building, across Route 205, but they could only have it processed for their own use.
The USDA certification of the new plant means that livestock can be processed for sale throughout the state, nation and
Please See LARRY’S, A10

New Handicapped Spot Nabs The Unsuspecting

2011-05-19T09:44:00.001-07:00

Non-Standard Parking Sign Fooling Some

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

In the village from the Fly Creek Valley on Monday, May 16, Barbara Lyon parked in one of those 15-minute parking places in front of the U.S. Post Office, the one closest to Hoffman Lane.
When she returned, she found a parking ticket under her windshield wiper. It stated she had parked in a handicapped spot. The fine, $100.
“I was in a state of disbelief,” she wrote later in the official protest form filed with village court. “There was no universal handicap symbol (wheelchair) on the pavement. No special lines on the pavement.
“Likewise, there was no wheelchair symbol on the signpost for that space.”
The sign bore small letters, “30 Minute Handicap Parking,” on a same-sized sign as the ones that say “15 Minute Parking” with the same-sized letters, only in blue.
The way the spot was marked is out of synch with instructions in the state’s manual that would-be drivers study, she said.
Lyon headed over to the police department at 22 Main, where she reports Police Chief Diana Nicols simply gave her the protest form to fill out.
Asked about the matter, Village Clerk Teri Barown said the village trustees approved converting the 15-minute spot to a handicapped spot in January.
Village Court Clerk Mary Ann Travis said Lyon is not alone: Several people have complained to her that they didn’t notice that the status of the space had changed.
However, she said, most then simply paid the $100 fine. Others took copies of the protest form with them, but haven’t submitted them yet, she said.
Through Travis, Village Justice Leslie Friedman declined to comment on matters that might come before her. And Trustee Lynne Mebust, Police Committee chair, and Chief Nicols didn’t return telephone messages.
Lyon was told that Brian Clancy, the Public Works superintendent, was responsible for erecting the sign. When she raised the issue of improper signage, Clancy said a vendor had put up the sign and he hadn’t seen it, she said. If it is improper, he told her, he would have it changed in the next few days.
“I have never even considered parking in a handicapped space and would not have today if universal signage and/or markings had been visible,” Lyon continued in her protest. “I would have parked in another space, of which two were available.”
She pointed out that, less than 40 feet away on the opposite side of the street, is a properly marked space in front of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Shouldn’t drivers on both sides of the street be looking at the same signs for the same designation of a handicapped parking space?” she asked.
LARRY’S/From A9
even the world, opening up possibilities for a whole new local industry.
Now, said Mockoviciak, the closest USDA-certified plants are in Bridgewater to the north and Otego to the south, but the demand is much greater than those plants can meet.
Already, the new plant is busy, and it’s expected that this fall Althiser’s six-employee operation will be running 24-7 to meet the demand of processing hogs.
The Otsego County Industrial Development Authority, the county’s Economic Development Office and CADE (the Center for Agricultural Development and Education) helped make the 3,000-square-foot structure possible.
In an interview, Jill Harvey, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, said the growing demand for organic meats along the Eastern Seaboard is making projects like this one a priority.
Larry’s benefited from an R-BEG, a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant, among other funding sources, Harvey said. The $99,000 grant went to the IDA, which bought the equipment and leased it to the Althisers at a reasonable rate.
Because of the demand, the USDA is operating two mobile slaughterhouses in the Hudson Valley, she said.
While many in the crowd under the tent were friends and relatives of the Althisers, the organic-farming segment was well-represented, too, including beef-growers up from East Meredith.
There were samples of the Althisers’ kielbasa and hotdogs which, with USDA-certification, they can sell from the plant if they wish.
And Jim Andela from Krugerrand Farms, was down from his goat farm outside Richfield Springs with samples of the goat cheese. He’s seeking a distributor in the New York City area.

Neighborhood On Alert For Fox On Prowl

2011-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN
Twelve-year-old Bella Carrascoso’s hand-made sign taped to a tree in front of her home says it all:
“WARNING: There has been a fox siting many times on Susquehanna Avenue between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14. So if you have cats, small dogs, or small pets, keep your eye on them and watch them carefully. You don’t want your pet to be lunch on the fox’s menu.”
Underneath is the lettering: “R.I.P Jake. We are sorry we couldn’t get you in time.”
Jake, explained Bella’s mother Monica, is one of her daughters’ pet guinea pigs – Bella has two sisters, Anneliese, 15, and Torrey, 9 – who were put out on the front porch last summer in an enclosed pen, along with two bunnies, Spencer and Bubblegum.
The mother heard one of the bunnies thumping and when she looked out, saw a fox looking at the pen. Jake was gone.
So when a fox – a big one, about the size of Miley, the family’s small-to-middling dog – began showing up a couple of weeks ago, the Carrascosos began to worry again.
Last spring, Sue Streek, upper Main Street, raised the alarm with the Village Board after she saw her cat, a Persian, being carried off in a fox’s teeth near Nelson Avenue.
About the same time, several foxes were spotted in the village, and it turned out a burgeoning coyote population in the hills around Cooperstown had forced the foxes into the village.
Foxes born within earshot of human beings feel quite at home in civilization, and appeared quite tame, even brazen, as they strolled around the neighborhoods.
In the winter, the foxes hibernate. But it appears they are back.
Doreen Dinicola, the graphic artist and CGP instructor, put up signs at Price Chopper the other day reporting that her cat, Pussycat, had disappeared, and she feared the worst.
“It’s a real concern,” said Dinicola, who also lives on Susquehanna, a few doors down from the Carrascosos.
A week later, one of her students saw a cat at Susquehanna and Chestnut, it turned out to be Pussycat, and mistress and pet were reunited.
Still, Dinicola says it’s likely the fox, which neighbors all along the street have reported seeing, spooked her pet, scaring it away.
“I’m surprised we haven’t got a village animal control office,” she observed.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-05-19T09:43:00.001-07:00

Voters Pass CCS Budget

COOPERSTOWN

The Cooperstown Central School District 2011-12 budget was approved by voters 311-84 Tuesday, May 17.

David Borgstrom, Theresa Russo and Beth Schifano (appointed to fill Noreen Polus’ term) were reelected.

HOLOHAN RUNS: Ray Holohan, the Cooperstown accountant, has announced he is seeking both the Republican and Democratic nominations to replace county Rep. Sam Dubben, R-Middlefield, who is retiring.

IN MEMORY: A beach access ramp at the village’s Three Mile Point Park will be dedicated in memory of the late Ken Kiser, park caretaker, at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 22.

SMITHY OPENS: The Smithy Pioneer Gallery opens for the season at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 19, with “Memory & Presence,” the oil paintings, drawings and sketches of artist Margaret Krug of New York City.

ARLO GUTHRIE ALICE’S BREWERY

2011-05-19T09:42:00.005-07:00

...Brewery Ommegang, that is. Arlo Guthrie, son of Woody and “Alice’s Restaurant” creator, drew more than 2,000 fans to the brewery Friday, May 13, to raise funds for the antifracking fight. Brewery spokesman Larry Bennett said $20,000 was immediately donated to Otsego 2000, and more is available. At right, brewery President Simon Thorpe chats with concert goers.

Johnson, Ackerman Top Milford Central’s Class Of 2011

2011-05-19T09:40:00.003-07:00

MILFORD

Danielle Johnson is valedictorian and Emily Ackerman salutatorian of the Milford Central School Class of 2011.
Danielle, daughter of Andrea and Kenneth Johnson, is the valedictorian for the Class of 2011, plans to attend Binghamton University, majoring in business.
She is a member of the Spanish Club and INTERACT/Community in Action. She is the treasurer for the Class of 2011 and has participated in cheerleading.
Emily, daughter of Donna and Keith Ackerman, plans to attend RPI, majoring in chemical engineering.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Club, president of Art Club, treasurer for INTERACT/Community in Action, vice president, treasurer and Student Government representative for Music Association, and assistant director for the school musicals.
She volunteers as a junior docent at The Fenimore Art Museum.

Richfield Springs’ Laurels Go To Clickman, Worobey

2011-05-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

RICHFIELD SPRINGS

Zachariah D. Clickman is valedictorian and Emma K. Worobey salutatorian of the Richfield Springs Central School Class of 2011.
Zachariah, son of Charles and Nancy Clickman, Richfield Springs, has been accepted to many prestigious undergraduate programs and plans to attend Syracuse University in the fall. His cumulative GPA is 98.651.
Zach attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine last summer. He is member of the National Honor Society, a student representative on the Board of Education, and an academic tutor.
Emma, daughter of Amy and Thomas Worobey, Jordanville, will attend Nazareth College, majoring in education. Her high school GPA was 97.128.
She has been an active CFES peer mentor, a member of National Honor Society, participant in Student Council and an active member of the school musicals.

CCS NAMES TOP FOUR STUDENTS: Dutkowsky, Grigoli, Kramer, Shelton Lead Class

2011-05-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN
Christen Dutkowsky, Natalie Grigoli, Anna Kramer and Jessica Shelton are the top four students in Cooperstown Central School’s Class of 2011.
Christen, daughter of Joseph and Karen Dutkowsky, Cooperstown, plans to attend The Catholic University of America, majoring in the classics (Greek and Latin).
Natalie, daughter of Salvatore and Diane Grigoli, Cooperstown, plans to major in English at Elmira College.
Anna, daughter of Bruce Kramer and Laura Kielty, Cooperstown, will spend next year at a Rotary Exchange Student in India. On her return, she plans to attend Pomona College.
Jessica, daughter of Robert Shelton and Marianne Rae, Cooperstown, plans to major in mathematics at Hamilton College.

Garretson, Brigham Top Scholars In Cherry Valley-Springfield Class

2011-05-19T09:38:00.001-07:00

CHERRY VALLEY

Mallory Viola Garretson is valedictorian and Abigail Marie Brigham salutatorian of the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School Class of 2011.
Mallory, daughter of Thomas and Amy Garretson, plans to study writing at St. Lawrence University; she received a Presidential Scholarship.
At CV-S, she has been active in Jazz Ensemble, Senior Band (first chair, saxophone) and Senior Choir (alto), and played quintets and duets with NYSSMA. She starred as Sarah Brown in this year’s musical, “Guys and Dolls,” Abby Brewster in “Arsenic and Old Lace, and Ellie Mae in “Beverley Hillbillies.”
She participated in Drama Club, Nature Club, SADD, Student Council (vice president), Varsity Club, Varsity Soccer (captain) and Track, Yearbook (editor in chief), Law Day, French Club, National Honor Society (president), and National Honor Societies in English, history and math.
She was class president in grades 9, 10, and 11.
She has attended Pen in Hand and Champlain College Writing Conferences to complement her writing for Iridescence, CV-S’s literary magazine, where she is editor.
Abigail, daughter of Don and Janet Brigham, has received full tuition to The College of St. Rose, where she plans to major in history and education, with a minor in reading, pursuing a lifelong interest in becoming a history teacher.
At CV-S, she participated in four honor societies: National, history, English and math, and was secretary for many clubs, including National Honor Society, French Club and the Class of 2011.
She was involved in Senior Band, Marching Band, NYSSMA and Jazz Band as first chair trumpet, while participating in the All County Festivals her freshmen, junior and senior years.
She played varsity softball (captain), basketball and soccer, recognized as a three-sport scholar athlete. She has volunteered at benefit dinners and blood drives, and is a student mentor.

Harmon Killebrew Bids Farewell To Fans, Friends

2011-05-19T09:37:00.004-07:00

Editor’s Note: The National Baseball Hall of Fame released this statement Friday, May 13, on behalf of Harmon Killebrew, Hall of Famer since 1984 and frequent attendee at the annual Induction Weekend. Killebrew passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2011.

It is with profound sadness that I share with you that my continued battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end.
With the continued love and support of my wife, Nita, I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease. My illness has progressed beyond my doctors’ expectation of cure.
I have spent the past decade of my life promoting hospice care and educating people on its benefits. I am very comfortable taking this next step and experiencing the compassionate care that hospice provides.
I am comforted by the fact that I am surrounded by my family and friends. I thank you for the outpouring of concern, prayers and encouragement that you have shown me.
I look forward to spending my final days in comfort and peace with Nita by my side.

A Dozen Things Great Downtowns Have In Common

2011-05-19T09:37:00.002-07:00

GARY FERGUSON
OTHER VOICES

Editor’s Note: Here are characteristics shared by successful downtowns. Gary Ferguson is Ithaca Downtown Partnership’s executive director.

1) No Single Organizational Model Exists
Contrary to expectations, there is no single way cities with great downtowns deliver their downtown services. Instead, these cities have found varying ways to provide needed services.
Each model reflects the institutional strengths present in the community.
2) These downtowns tended to have multiple traffic generators that supplemented the presence of a larger institution(s), all within short walking distance.
Many but not all of these traffic generators were purposely strategically located.
3) These great downtowns are beloved by citizenry.
They have regional significance. There is strong affection for the downtown. There is also controversy and debate, but always strong affection.
4) These downtown have been and are continuing to overcome challenges and obstacles.
Just because the city has a great reputation for its downtown doesn’t mean that it is exempt from challenge. Even today, these cities are preparing for their next set of challenges.
5) These downtowns are walkable. They have pedestrian scale.
There was no single model. They include pedestrian malls, linear main streets, public squares and multi-zone downtowns. People expected and preferred to walk.
6) These downtowns, by and large, had a commitment to mixed use development.
Uses are generally not geographically separated. When they are, they remain within walking distance of each other. New projects have mixed use orientations.
7) There is broad public/private investment in the future of downtown.
These cities are planning for their futures. They are implementing new projects that broaden the appeal and scope of downtown.
8) The nature of downtown retailing appears to be in flux.
Food & beverage is replacing traditional retail. Local, independent retailers continue to dominate most downtowns. These downtowns face increasing competition; some have been exempt from serious competition for years.
9) Entertainment is a driving market segment.
Anchor projects help (movie theaters, performance halls, proximity to university facilities.) All have been able to extend the life of downtown beyond 5 p.m. All have strong and growing restaurant sectors.
10) There was a prevalence of strong, adjacent residential neighborhoods that are within walking distance of downtown.
Many of these neighborhoods were upscale, with some of the higher priced housing in the city. This was not necessarily student housing.
11) Downtown housing was either prevalent or underway. The market for housing in downtown was strong and growing.
Affordability was a major issue faced by many of the communities. Downtown residents were likewise invaluable to the downtown retail economy.
12) Universities help but are not the sole answer.
Several cities reported low use of downtown by students (Northampton, Wooster, Charlottesville). One city had a small downtown despite abutting the campus (Chapel Hill). One city had no major university (Portland).

EDITORIAL: Historic Preservation Is Reviving Downtowns And Can Here, Too

2011-05-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

Pessimists consider themselves realists. In truth, pessimism is often just ignorance. That’s a little harsh. Perhaps it’s just insensitivity to possibilities.
Nonetheless, it was a breath of fresh air to spend a recent afternoon with the knowledgeable Elise Johnson-Schmidt, the Corning architect and former executive director of the Market Street Restoration Agency there.
Corning has been a charming place to visit for decades, but so are Cooperstown, Oneonta and other Otsego County communities. Yes, Corning is headquarters of Fortune-500 Corning Inc., but Cooperstown hosts the National Baseball Hall of Fame and first-rate museums, and Oneonta hosts two now-thriving colleges, Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta. (And, it should be added, a Corning plant.)
So if Johnson-Schmidt envisioned and implemented an effort to return housing to the upper stories of Market Street buildings in Corning, there’s no reason why she can’t do the same here. She is allied with Klugo Enterprises of Corning, which won the contract to redevelop the former Bresee’s Department Store into, yes, stores on the first floor and, yes, apartments on the second, third and fourth.
She also spoke at that all-day seminar Otsego 2000 sponsored last fall on redeveloping upper stories in buildings on Cooperstown’s Main Street, which informed a series of recommendations the village Planning Board forwarded to the Village Board a month ago for consideration.

•

Independently, village Planning Board chair Charlie Hill and such board members as Richard Blabey had been studying what can be done to energize a stagnating Main Street, so Johnson-Schmidt was singing their song.
Among the recommendations on the trustees’ desks is to remove requirements that apartment owners provide dedicated parking spaces for their tenants, spaces that in Cooperstown simply don’t exist. Private enterprise, Hill and Blabey have posited, will fill the void; until the market catches up, the village can lease tenants or landlords spaces in the Doubleday Parking lot.
When Hill asked the folks in the county Real Property Office what might be done, he was told the state enables localities to abate taxes on improvements to commercial properties, 100 percent for eight years, then bringing them up to full valuation 25 percent a year for the next four years.
Absent that, the property-tax system discourages property owners from upgrading their buildings: For now, in addition to paying for often-costly renovations, property owners are immediately penalized by seeing their property taxes rise.
This would require each locality – the village and Town of Otsego, or the City of Oneonta, plus the school districts – to adopt the enabling legislation. Longterm, it’s a great idea, since – beginning a dozen years from now and beyond – rising tax revenues will, over time, more than make up anything that wasn’t levied shortterm.

•

Whether or not the localities act, Johnson-Schmidt said three components are now in place that make the redevelopment of upper stories possible, as well as essential to create the cash flow necessary to make historic downtown buildings financially viable:
One, revisions to the state building code. For instance, sprinkler systems may be installed when a second egress from an apartment is impossible.
Two, New Markets Historic Tax Credits allow 39 percent of the cost of certified upgrades to be deducted from a developer’s (or investors’) tax bills. (Earlier tax credits for historic renovations were eliminated during the Reagan Administration, putting an abrupt halt to an exciting era of downtown redevelopment.)
Three, Restore New York grants, enacted during the Spitzer Administration, provide funds to close the gap between the cost of renovations and what a private developer can invest and still anticipate a profit. Oneonta’s effort has taken full advantage of these to make the Bresee’s project viable.
The beauty of this combination is that everyone wins. Decrepit (or merely under-used) heritage buildings, often displaying workmanship that simply can’t be duplicated today, find new life. Neighborhoods around these buildings likewise revive, with housing creating a demand for services – food and hardware stores, for instance – that have moved out to the malls or the periphery. As the demand for housing grows, existing apartment houses can be improved, higher rents paid, and tax revenues grow. Any investment – and tax credits, grants and abatements are investments, not expenses – are eventually outstripped by new revenues. Everyone wins.

•

In Corning, the effort has created 41 trendy apartments in spaces that were vacant a decade ago, and momentum continues to grow. A fancy restaurant – Tony R’s, opened in 2007 –occupies several storefronts; The Cellar, a tapas bar, is offering 40 wines by the glass, 75 by the bottle. Boutiques, high-end service businesses and smart cafes abound.
If Bresee’s, why not those vacant floors that extend west along Main Street from Oneonta’s Muller Plaza. If not the old opera house in Cooperstown, why not the upper floors of that village’s landmark KeyBank building?
Optimism? Pessimism? Fiddlesticks. Let’s simply sensitize ourselves to the possibilities … and act.

36 LOCAL ATHLETES ‘DU’ IT

2011-05-19T09:33:00.001-07:00

Andrew Royer, a student at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, came in second in the team event, with Amy Drake.

Drew Porter was the top Cooperstown winner in the individual event, coming in 13th with a time of 02:01:54.

Zach Winnie
for The Freeman’s Journal
Runner Deborah Miller, Fly Creek, and biker Chris Eldred, Oneonta, took first place in the team event at the Clark Sports Center’s Just “Du” It Duathlon Sunday, May 15. Thirty-six athletes from the county and beyond competed in the run-bike-run combination.

The winners are, back row, left to right: Kyler Breier, Oneonta; Rebecca Toombs, State College, Pa.; Keith Toombs, Oneonta; Scott Schaffer, Rotterdam; Kathryn Sentz, Cooperstown; Tim Sattler, Oneonta; Erika Gates, Oneonta; Kimberley Negrich, Mayfield. Front row, left to right, Joe Coe, Norwich; Anne Killian-Russo, Cooperstown; Chris Eldred, Oneonta; Deborah Miller, Fly Creek; Elizabeth Treadwell, Laurens; Dereck Treadwell, Laurens; Rebecca Stone, Cooperstown; and Dawn Siebuhr, Cooperstown.

THE SPORTS BEAT

2011-05-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

Silvera, Reis Set Records
Cooperstown senior Alec Silvera broke his own school record in the 110 hurdles at the Oneonta Invitational last Friday, finishing with a time of 14.7. His previous best was 14.89.
Silvera is the defending state champion in Division II in the event.
CCS’s Will Reis became the first local runner to break the two minutes in the 800 meter event, crossing in a winning time of 1:55.0
And Laura Harmon broke the CCS record in the 2,000m steeplechase, in 7:53:5, topping Laura Resnick’s 8:06:0 from 2008.
The Redskins finished second to Norwich.

#15 Million Visits HoF
The National Baseball Hall of Fame surpassed the 15 million mark on Friday when Ken Gallinger of Ormstown, Quebec entered the museum at 3:48 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
Gallinger became the Museum’s 15 millionth visitor since the Museum first opened its doors on June 12, 1939, when he entered with his Museum Membership card in hand, just days before the Museum’s 72nd birthday.
Gallinger was greeted by Hall of Fame officials, including President Jeff Idelson, who presented him with a Membership upgrade to the President’s Circle level. As a President’s Circle Member, Gallinger will receive two tickets to the premium seating area for the July 24 Hall of Fame Induction.
The longtime Toronto Blue Jays fan will be able to watch former Jays star Roberto Alomar and former Toronto general manager Pat Gillick receive their Hall of Fame plaques along with Bert Blyleven, the third member of the Class of 2011 at the Hall of Fame.

‘One For Books’ To Open
Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Joe Morgan and Cal Ripken Jr. are scheduled to participate in a special Voices of the Game discussion event at the national Baseball Hall of Fame on May 28.
The event is part of the opening of the Museum’s new exhibit ``One for the Books: Baseball Records and the Stories Behind Them’’ on Saturday, May 28 in Cooperstown. The five legends are expected to take part in a one-hour moderated program focused on baseball’s most memorable milestones, from 1-2 p.m.
A ticket is required for this event and costs $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Museum members have an exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets by calling the Hall of Fame’s Membership department at 607-547-0397, now while supplies last, until May 22. Should any tickets remain on Monday, May 23, those will be made available to the public.

Bassett Invitational Near
The 14th annual Bassett Medical Center Invitational is set for May 31 at the par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown.
The invitational, which features a field of 144 golfers, raises money to support the Friends of Bassett Healthcare network Annual Fund.
Players will receive gift bags and lunch. They also are invited to attend a post-event cocktail reception and awards ceremony, which is open to guests and non-golfers. Tickets are limited and cost $50. Call 547-3928.

With Sams, Borgstrom Help, CCS Softball Is No Stranger To Victory

2011-05-19T09:30:00.001-07:00

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Sports Editor

In the decade that Dave Bliss has been head coach of the Cooperstown softball, the program has come from laughingstock to annual 10-win team that has challenged for league and sectional titles.
This year’s team, led by four-year players Anna Sams, the program record holder in wins and strikeouts, and catcher Sam Borgstrom, is 8-5 as the regular season winds down this week.
In her four years as starting pitcher, Sams has accumulated 41 wins and struck out 640 batters through the Friday, May 13, game. Borgstrom is a solid hitter and a feared defensive catcher. Opposing teams respect her arm so much base runners rarely try to steal, Bliss said.
“In softball, pitcher and catcher are the two most important positions,’’ Bliss said. “We’ve been lucky to have two really good ones for the last four years.’’
As the softball team has become more competitive over the years, more of the top athletes in the school have decided to play softball, the coach said. He also credited the Youth Softball League started by Terry Bliss and continued by David Borgstrom, and the modified program, coached by Glen Noto, as major contributors to the success of the program.
“Success breeds success,’’ Bliss said. “Having the girls start at an early age with good coaching has also been very beneficial.’’
For the second consecutive season, a freshman has led the Redskins’ offense. Last year it was Alannah Haggerty, who missed this season after suffering a knee injury in soccer, while this year’s phenom is Maggie Hall.
Hall leads the team in batting average (.325) and runs batted in (18) and is also tied for the team lead in hits with 13. Her three home runs this season also ties the school record for most in a single season.
“Anna and Sam are the only two seniors,’’ Bliss said. “We’ll have everyone else back so the future looks pretty good.’’
Junior leadoff hitter Holli Erkson and fellow junior Meghan Vann also have 13 hits apiece this season. Another junior, Natalie Reich, is second on the team with a .316 batting average, and among her 12 hits are a double triple and nine runs batted in.
In 70 innings this season, Sams has struck out 105 batters and walked just 12 and has an earned run average of 1.90. Sophomore Nicole Cring will take over pitching duties next season. Cring is 2-0 with 17 strikeouts in 19 innings and an ERA of 1.47 this season.
Four of Cooperstown’s losses this season came to powerhouse programs Canastota and Sauquoit. CCS lost a 4-3 decision at Sauquoit on Wednesday, May 11, and a 12-7 decision at Canastota two days later.
“The good news against Canastota was we had seven runs and 11 hits against the best pitcher we’ll see all season,’’ Bliss said. “Both of the games against Sauquoit we could have won, and we could see them again in sectionals.’’

HOSTS RULE At Don Howard Invitational

2011-05-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Wes Lippitt gets off to a quick start in the 100-yard dash.

Watching teammates compete are, from left, Emily Klein, Suzy Zhang and Kelsey Lent.

CCS’ Alec Silvera demonstrates his winning form while leaping a hurdle in the boys’ 110 at the Don Howard Invitational Saturday, May 7, at home. The team set school, track and meet records in the 1,600-meter relay and senior Alec Silvera won a fast 110 hurdles. The team of Jacob Miller, Silvera, Jeremiah Ford and Will Reis finished 3 minutes, 27.0 seconds, beating runner-up Oneonta by 13 seconds. The Redskins beat their school record of 3:30.58 set last season and track and meet records of 3:28.1 set in 2009 by a Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton squad that went on to win Division II state championship.
Reis anchored the relay and ran a personal-best split of 49.8. See brief at left for more details.

CCS’s Brandon Daniels shows his winning form in the shot put.

Jeremiah Ford hands off to Will Reis, who ran the last lap of Cooperstown’s record setting win in the 1,600 relay.

to see more pictures of the event, see our facebook album -- coming soon!

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-05-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

Arlo Guthrie Sings To Help Fracking Fight

COOPERSTOWN
Arlo Guthrie will sing with the Levon Helm Band Friday, May 13, at Brewery Ommegang, to benefit anti-fracking efforts. The gates open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $55 at the door, $45 in advance. Check www.ommegang.com for further details.

RELAY BOOST:
KeyBank’s Cooperstown branch will host a Customer Appreciation Day Friday, May 13, part of the “Paint the Town Purple” campaign to raise visibility for the Relay for Life, Friday-Saturday, May 20-21, at Dreams Park.

LEST WE FORGET:
The Abner Doubleday Roundtable and the American Legion post are planning a commemoration at Cherry Valley’s Civil War monument at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21.

The Freeman’s Journal
Cooperstown Farmers’ Market manager Lynn Weir was handing out 1,500 packets of zucchini seeds on Mother’s Day to shoppers there. The packets were made available by Harris Seed, Rochester, to boost entries in the zucchini category at Cooperstown’s annual PumpkinFest.

Find A Safer Way To Frack, Obama Orders

2011-05-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

President Obama has directed the U.S. Department of Energy to create a panel to recommend “immediate steps” to improve the safety of hydrofracking, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced May 5.
“America’s vast natural gas resources can generate many new jobs and provide significant environmental benefits, but we need to ensure we harness these resources safely,” said Chu.
He asked the panel to report back in 90 days with immediate steps, and with broader steps in 180 days.
The panel includes John Deutch, former CIA director; Fred Krupp, president, Environmental Defense Fund and Daniel Yergin, author of the bestseller, “The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power.”

Neighborly Bank Chief Pays Visits

2011-05-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

Branches, Merchants On Tryniski Agenda

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
And there you have it: A hands-on bank president. During a visit to Cooperstown Friday, May 6, Community Bank President/CEO Mark Tryniski, left, pops a pizza into the oven at Sal’s on Main Street. Next to Tryniski is Joe Sutaris, the bank’s Oneonta-based regional executive, and proprietors John and Sal Grigoli.

If you’re in business, every once in a while your banker may stop by. But your bank’s president?
So you can imagine that proprietors Sal and John Grigoli were a bit surprised when Mark Tryniski stopped by Sal’s Pizza Friday, May 6, with his hand outstretched.
Tryniski, president/CEO of the Dewitt-based Community Bank, which bought Wilber Bank in April, was in Otsego County for the day, touring his new branches with Joe Sutaris, his Oneonta-based regional executive.
Sipping a Coke and munching on a slice, the executive said the transition from Wilber to Community – it involved changing 500 signs over the weekend and shifting computer systems – went off with few hitches.
That was partly due to intense training in advance of the shift, and partly to a “buddy system” – a Community veteran was posted in Wilber branches to help Wilber’s former employees with new procedures in the interim.
A big part of that training was in customer service, said Tryniski. Lots of companies give lip service to that concept, he continued, but Community’s efforts caused Forbes to rank it the seventh-best bank in the nation two years in a row. J.D. Powers put Community on its Top 10 list for three of the last five years.
When the merger happened, the executive continued, Community happened to be offering higher CD rates than Wilber. The buyer didn’t have to, but immediately raised former Wilber customers to the higher level.
Plus, the new customers receive free checking – “completely” free checking, Tryniski emphasized – and access to more extensive Internet-banking and cash-management systems.
Local customers may also notice that branch managers such as Cooperstown’s Janice Eichler will have broader authority to approve loans. “In our system, we expect them to function as bank presidents in their towns,” the president said.
As it happens, Community Bank was founded about the same time as Wilber, 150 years ago, and expanded through a “combination of organic growth and high-value mergers with other banks,” Tryniski said.
“Wilber was not the largest in branches,” he continued. “But the largest in terms of deposits and assets.”
While Community is not among the mega-banks, it is 130th among the nation’s 8,000 community banks which, plotted, would result in a graph that looks like a barbell, Tryniski said: Big banks at one end, small banks at the other, and banks like Community in the middle.
Wilber had 250 employees; Community has 2,000.
With the increase in bank regulation – mortgages use to require a stack of forms about an inch thick; now, it’s 6 inches, he said – “you’re going to see more and more smaller banks looking for alternatives.”
A native of Fulton, Tryniski received an accounting degree from SUNY Oswego and spent 18 years with Price Waterhouse’s Syracuse office before joining Community as CFO in 2003, winning promotion to the top job three years later.
He and wife Phyllis have four children, Nick, 22, Tim, 20, and twin daughters, Katie and Kellie, 19. The family lives in Baldwinsville.

In Tight Year, CCS Tax Hike Under COLA

2011-05-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

In the end, the 2011-12 Cooperstown Central School budget that goes to the voters Tuesday, May 17, keeps the tax increase at 1.56 percent, under the COLA – the Cost Of Living Adjustment – of 1.6 percent.
The biggest hit was taken by the CCS faculty: Six positions will be eliminated, resulting in the retirements of eight full- and parttimers.
They include such revered veterans as Latin teacher Pete Henrici and art teacher Eileen Murphy, allowed the teacher-salaries line to be reduced by 11.2 percent, or $260,000. (Henrici will be returning half-time to keep the Latin program going.)
With state-aid cuts expected from Albany, the CCS board had faced “fairly dire predictions” at the outset, said Superintendent of Schools C.J. Hebert. But by the time it approved the tentative budget, it surfaced that aid deferred from last year would now be forthcoming, meaning an expected 16-percent cut has become a slight increase.
That’s just for one year, Hebert emphasized; next year, all bets are off.
Other significant changes that came out of budget deliberations included sending sixth grade back to Cooperstown Elementary School, and – due to a dip in participation – eliminating JV girls field hockey. (Some of the younger girls will be folded into the varsity team.)
Overall, the elimination of the six teaching positions brings the number of faculty to 23 for the 459 students in K-12, raising the average class from 18 to 20 students.
“Over 10 years, there’s been 23-percent drop in enrollment,” said Hebert. “This is necessary to right-size the teaching staff.”
The overall budget is up a bit, from $15.97 million this year to $16.9 million, 5.93 percent. The tax levy rises from $10.36 million to $10.5 million.
The polls will be open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the middle/high school auditorium for qualified voters from the Village of Cooperstown and towns of Hartwick, Middlefield and Otsego who reside in the school district.
In addition to Henrici and Murphy, other staffers retiring are Deborah Kiser and Roxanne Murray at Cooperstown Elementary, and at the middle/school: Laura Jane Reidhead (secretary), Michele Townsend (remedial reading, writing), Wayne Weir (health/phys-ed) and Margaret Yakos.
After the tentative budget was approved, Hebert learned that Mindy Kilmer, nutrition services supervisor, will be returning to school for an advanced degree, and he has arranged with Milford School Superintendent Peter Livshin to share Milford’s supervisor next year, another savings.
The retirements are a bit complicated. In addition to Henrici returning halftime, Murphy’s art position will also be reduced to halftime, and it is not yet known if she will return.
Retired teacher Frank Miosek had been teaching math halftime, but that half-time position is now being eliminated. Same with a half-time science position.
“Overall,” said Hebert, “I’m confident the students are going to have an excellent program.”

TO VOTE: The polls will be open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at the Cooperstown Central Middle/High School auditorium to vote on the $16 million budget for the 2011-12 school year.

Dr. Bernadette Ryan To Keynote Relay For Life Opener May 20

2011-05-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Dr. Bernadette Ryan, Bassett Hospital’s chief of surgical oncology, will be guest speaker at the opening of the 13th annual Cooperstown/Northern Otsego Relay for Life at 6 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Cooperstown Dreams Park.
Cancer survivors will then take the first ceremonial lap around the track, followed by the caregivers lap. At survivors dinner is planned at 6:30 for each survivor and a designated caregiver.
Teams will be selling food, beginning at 6.
At 7, a haircutting is planned to benefit Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which partners with the American Cancer Society to give real hair wigs to women fighting cancer (minimum 8-inch length required).
At 8 is the Fight Back Ceremony, an open mic event where people step up to the microphone and make a commitment to fight cancer by scheduling a first time mammogram, encouraging a friend to stop smoking, or the like.
At 8:15 is a tribute ceremony in memory of Cathy Hughes.
At 8:30, the Luminaria Ceremony: A celebration of survivorship and memories of loved ones lost to cancer.
From 5 to 7 a.m. Saturday, May 21, a Deluxe Continental Breakfast is planned, with donations to benefit relay.
The closing ceremony is at 7:30 a.m.

WHAT WILL THE KIDS DO THIS SUMMER?

2011-05-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

Jamie Stegman/The Freeman’s Journal

By 7 a.m. Saturday, May 7, dozens of parents and relatives of aspirants to the Clark Sports Center’s Summer Camps 2011 were lined up around the building. Some had been waiting since the wee hours. Registering for the highly sought-after adventure and sports camps requires a relative to personally register the youngsters. You can’t hire someone to do it for you; you can’t even leave the line to go to the rest room, or you lose your place. Eric Mooney, in right photo, the Bassett plastic surgeon and father of three daughters, arrived at 2:30 a.m. and was sixth in line.

LOCALS:

2011-05-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

NEW ROTARIANS:
Attorney Donna Borgstrom and NBT Bank’s Jody Smith were inducted into the Cooperstown Rotary Club Tuesday, May 10. They were sponsored by Richie Abbate and Donna Shipman respectively.

IDELSON AT LIONS:
Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, was scheduled to speak to the Cooperstown Lions at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the club’s regular meeting at the Tunnicliff Inn. At the May 4 meeting, Lion Claire Kepner narrated a slide presentation on her recent trip to Africa.

OPEN FOR SEASON:
Will and Emily Gibson are reopening their Mount Wellington Market, Route 80, for the season this Saturday, May 14.

Envirothon Organizers To Name Scholarship In Ted Peters’ Honor

2011-05-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Otsego Soil & Water Conservation District’s Leatherstocking Envirothon Committee has established a scholarship in honor of Ted Peters, who has chaired the Village of Cooperstown’s water board, sewer board and Otsego Lake Watershed Supervisory Committee.
A retired Bassett researcher, he also worked to provide ultraviolet disinfection of the village water supply to replace chlorine.
In 2006 The Otsego County Conservation Association named him “Environmentalist of the Year” and in 2010 he received an award for service with the Otsego County Water Quality Coordinating Committee.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

2011-05-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Enjoying their last moments of freedom are, from left, Will Cadwalader, Grant Davine, Johnny Hage, Jason Cadwalader, Kevin Frevele, Jack Donnelly, Tommy Schulz and Joseph Harmon.

Jim Arthurs escorts daughter Mallory back to the veranda after a stroll on The Otesaga’s lawn.

to see more pictures visit our facebook album -- coming soon!

Proclamation Dramatizes Little Known Williams Syndrome

2011-05-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

FOR THE LOVE OF SELA

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, presents the Williams Syndrome Awareness Week proclamation to Sela Quinonez, 6, of Edmeston. With Sela are mom Stephanie, dad William and sister Odessa, 13.

Editor’s Note: These are state Sen. Jim Seward’s remarks Monday, May 9, at Bassett Hospital, in announcing Williams Syndrome Awareness Week.

Williams syndrome is a relatively unknown, rare genetic disorder.
The general public, educators, even many doctors are unaware of Williams, yet it affects one in 10,000 people worldwide.
I must confess, I was not familiar with Williams syndrome myself until I heard from Stephanie Quinonez.
Stephanie and her husband Willie live in Edmeston, and one year ago their 6-year-old daughter, Sela, was diagnosed with Williams syndrome.
They, like so many other families, are now learning about this life-changing disorder, and while it has altered their lives, they now know what they are dealing with and where to seek the best care possible for Sela.
Ev55en the medical community is playing catch up when it comes to Williams syndrome.
The number of individuals diagnosed with Williams syndrome has actually increased five times in the past five years alone, as more and more doctors become aware of this disorder.
One of those doctors who does understand Williams is with us today, Doctor Monica Brane, a pediatrician with the Bassett Healthcare Network in Oneonta.
Along with the need for public awareness and an understanding of Williams syndrome comes the need for funding to help care for those affected by the emerging disorder.
There are ongoing medical needs from birth through adulthood.
From early intervention services like speech or occupational therapy to adult needs like group housing and other supportive assistance programs.
This Saturday, May 14, at New Hartford High School, there is a fundraising walk for Williams syndrome, it is in its fifth year, and it is organized by another caring parent – Bridget Jones of New Hartford, (who was present at the Seward announcement with her daughter and husband).
Last week, the state Senate adopted a special legislative resolution proclaiming this week as Williams Syndrome Awareness Week in the State of New York.
At this time I would like to present a copy of the resolution to Sela Quinonez and her family.
You are the reason why the whole State of New York is now learning about Williams Syndrome.
Generating public awareness about Williams syndrome is an important step in supporting patients who suffer from the disorder, along with their families, improving care and advancing future research.

What is Williams Syndrome?
Williams syndrome is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. These occur side by side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music.
WS affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States. It is known to occur equally in both males and females and in every culture.
More at www.williams-syndrome.org

51-Point Game One Of CCS Honoree Schaeffer’s Fond Memories

2011-05-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

By ERIC AHLQVIST : COOPERSTOWN
Sports Editor

Seth Schaeffer goes up for a rebound against Hamilton and Adonal Foyle in 1994, one of the most anticipated games in Cooperstown history.

Two of Cooperstown High School’s most accomplished athletes said the lessons they learned playing sports have had major impacts on their adult lives.
“When I’m preparing a brief, I say to myself, ‘What would Coach White do or what would Coach Miosek or Coach Howard do?’” said 1994 graduate Seth Schaeffer, the school’s all-time leading scorer and now a lawyer in Washington D.C. “Maybe we took it for granted back then what amazing role models we had as coaches, but looking back on it now I can really appreciate it.’’
Schaeffer was referring to longtime boys soccer coach Frank Miosek, longtime boys basketball coach Dick White and longtime track coach Don Howard, who are all in the CCS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Schaeffer and six other individuals, as well as three teams and former girls soccer coach Lisa Cherubin, were among this year’s inductees into the Athletic Hall announced Tuesday, May 3. The induction ceremony is slated for Sept. 24.
“I’m honored to be included in this year’s class and looking forward to coming back to Cooperstown in the fall,” said Schaeffer, who is married with two young children.
Schaeffer’s most cherished high school memories are winning sectionals in his sophomore basketball season, his school-record 51 points against Class A school Proctor during his senior season, and the basketball team’s home game against Hamilton and future NBA player Adonis Foyle during his senior season.
Foyle and Schaeffer ended up teammates at Colgate in college, but the teams’ high school meeting was one of the biggest sporting events in CCS history.
So many people wanted to watch the game that it was shown on closed-circuit television for fans who could not fit into the gym, and White recalled several years ago that when he stood to give coaching instructions fans would move into his seat on the bench.
Cooperstown ended up losing the game by one point in the final seconds.
“That was certainly one of the biggest games I’ve ever been involved in,’’ Schaeffer said.
Schaeffer and Foyle went on to lead Colgate to consecutive NCAA appearances in 1995 and ’96. In 1996, Colgate played Connecticut and star Ray Allen in the first round, and Schaeffer scored 18 points on six three-point shots.
Wrestler Packy Burke, a 1996 graduate who finished his senior season 41-0 and won a state title at 130-pounds, also recalled the big impact CCS’s coaching staff had on him.
“I played soccer and baseball under Coach Miosek, and he always stood up for his players no matter what,’’ Burke said. “I was an average athlete, but I knew he believed in me and that really had an impact on me.’’
Burke, who finished with a career wrestling record of 192-16, said the Clark Sports Center was also a valuable resource.
``You grow up learning from guys like Barry Gray, Scott Curtis and Sharky Nagelschmidt, that’s pretty special,’’ he said. “The community support I received during my senior year is what I remember the most. I don’t how I’ll give a speech about it, I’m going to going to get too emotional.’’
But Lippitt, currently a Physical Education teacher at Cooperstown Elementary School, is one of three 1995 graduates to be inducted, along with Reid Nagelschmidt and Megan Sanford, his cousin.
``It makes it more special to go in with those two,’’ said Lippitt, a three-sport star in football, wrestling and baseball.
Lippitt said his favorite high school memories both occurred against rival Richfield Springs. In his senior year of football, he scored the game’s only touchdown and led the team in tackles as Cooperstown won, 8-0, in its Homecoming Game. In his junior year he pitched a no-hitter against the Indians.
Lippitt is still the record holder for doubles and triples in baseball, and at the time of his graduation also was the program leader in wins. That record was broken by Guerin Blask.
CCS track coach Connie Herzig coached both Sanford and 1997 graduate Renee Welch. She said Sanford was the best sprinter Cooperstown has ever had and Welch was a fierce competitor.
Sanford holds the school record in the 100 and 200, while Welch is the record holder in the 1,500 and 3,000. Her 3,000 time of 10:27 is 40 seconds better than the second place time.
``That’s pretty amazing,’’ Herzig said of Welch, who went on to West Point after graduation.
``The first time I met her she was a skinny eighth grader and she said she wanted to run varsity track,’’ Herzig recalled of Welch. ‘’I asked her what was the matter with modified, and she said ``They’re not serious enough.’ That’s all you need to know about Renee.’’
Cherubin had a 159-34-11 record from 1992-2001, which included a 67-game league winning streak, four sectional title and a share of the Class C state crown in 1999.
Also to be inducted is 1991 graduate Tim Osterhoudt, the 1991 boys soccer team which advanced to the state Final Four, and the 1994 girls track team which won a Section Three Class C title and featured both Welch and Sanford.

PLAY BALL!

2011-05-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Cooperstown Youth Baseball’s Colorado Rockies lead the season opener parade down Main Street Saturday, April 30. Behind them (in the blue shirt) is coach John Lambert. Contamination at Beanie Ainslie Field at the end of Walnut Street caused the CYB to play its games this year at the Clark Sports Center, the Hartwick Little League field, and Beaver Valley Campground, Hartwick Seminary.

Shayne Chase takes a timeout for the traditional Little League snack, the hotdog, at opening ceremonies.

Batter Jack Poulson waits for a pitch as Little League action got underway on the diamond at the Beaver Valley Campground, Hartwick Seminary, which owner Dwaine Sharratt made available to the boys this year. Scott Curtis is catching, and Dale Scuck, who drives out annually from Wyoming, is ump.

To see more pictures visit our facebook album -- Little League, 2011

First Child Celebrated, But Autism Hits Home

2011-05-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

The Freeman’s Journal
Nick, Anne and baby Sam after the Saturday, April 29, Autism Walk at Glimmerglass State Park.

You may remember her as that super-efficient former waitress at the Doubleday Cafe. Or as the Rev. Sundar Samuel’s daughter.
But, now Anne Steinbuck, she was back in town from Clifton Park the other day for a very special purpose: to join the Autism Walk Saturday, April 30, at Glimmerglass State Park.
She was walking for Sam’s Team, Sam being Samuel Nicholas Steinbuck, first grandson of the Cooperstown Methodist Church pastor and his wife, Deborah, a lively lad who was exploring the parsonage porch the other day while the adults talked.
Lively, but quiet. And that began worrying Anne and her husband, Nick, when the toddler reached 15 months. “He was diagnosed as being in ‘the spectrum’” of autism, his mother said.
The Steinbucks knew little about autism, an umbrella term that covers a range of disorders from severe to, in Sam’s case, mild.
Eventually, he is expected to talk. Meanwhile, Early Intervention Services in Saratoga County, where the family lives, is sending specialists to their home three times a week to have Sam go through exercises to help him socialize with other youngsters. Among other things, he’s learning signing.
While most of us are familiar with the term “hypersensitive,” Sam is the opposite – “hyposensitive.” Rather than being overstimulated by experiences, he tends to underreact.
On the porch the other day, the boy, playing with a pinwheel, stuck the stick sharply on the roof of his mouth. Most children would have screamed, but Sam took it without a murmur.
Anne was raised in Bainbridge, where her father was a pastor before moving here seven years ago. She attended Clarkson and SUNY Oneonta, studying biology, then business and history, and is now a manager at a CVS. Nick, raised in Andes, attended SUNY Delhi and studied auto mechanics at Lincoln Tech in Mahwah, N.J. He works at Lia Infiniti, Latham.
The couple began researching autism, and learned about an Autism Walk in the Capitol District, which they attended. They hadn’t even heard of the local Autism Walk, but when they did they formed the local team with the help of her parents.
“We were initially sad about the whole thing,” said Mrs. Samuel, “and sad for these young people as parents.”
But the whole process of putting together a team raised awareness locally and within the local congregation about the disease.
“We kill two birds with one stone,” Anne observed. “We walked, and we visited my parents for the weekend.”
And, Sam’s Team raised $1,700 for autism research.

Surplus Raided Again To Keep Taxes Steady

2011-05-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Village Plans $200,000 In Road Work In ’11

COOPERSTOWN

The village’s 2011-12 budget completed by the May 1 deadline taps another $390,000 from surplus funds, compared to the $265,000 originally proposed by Mayor Joe Booan.
But it keeps the tax rate steady at $4.6 per thousand, and it contains $200,000 shortterm street repairs, less than the mayor originally sought but almost 50 percent higher than the new bloc of trustees had proposed at one point.
The road repairs, Booan said, will be “mill and fill” and “oil and stone,” and will be done on some of the streets targeted in his original budget.
While most of the personnel cuts the mayor proposed – he planned to use the savings for a full-bore streets – were put back in by the new Village Board, the mayor was able to express some satisfaction in the final document.
For instance, $10,000 was allocated for Lamont Engineering, the village’s consultant, to begin planning future roadwork. “It will help us get ‘shovel ready’ for future projects,” Booan said.
The mayor was also foiled in an effort to use some of a $750,000 surplus in the water fund for roadwork, a permitted use, according to the state Conference of Mayors.

THE SPORTS BEAT

2011-05-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

Phil Pohl Off To Fast Start At Clemson
CCS graduate and Clemson junior Philip Pohl is batting .360 for the Tigers this season, good for second on the team. Pohl was a two-time Class C Player of the Year at CCS, where he also led the team to a Section Three Class C title.
He struggled at the plate during his first two years at Clemson, but has settled in this year, with 54 hits in 150 at bats, including four home runs, 15 doubles and 29 runs batted in over the first 44 games of the season.
Pohl has a .984 fielding percentage at his catcher position, and has started 38 of 41 games. Clemson, which advanced to the College World Series last season, is 29-15 on the season.

4 Locals Compete In Half-Marathon
Nancy B. Mitchell of Milford, along with Michele and Matthew Pearsall and Holly Conway of Oneonta, competed in the Inaugural Lake George Half Marathon April 23 in Lake George.
Of the 300 runners, Matt Pearsall finished in 1:52:52 earning him fifth place in his age group. Michele also came in fifth in her age group with a time of 2:08:41. Conway’s time of 1:55:50 earned her a 7th age group place and Mitchell placed 1st in her age group with a 2:13:05.
Matt Pearsall is Bassett’s director of pharmancy in Cooperstown. Michele Pearsall is SUNY Oneonta’s interim director of career development and an adjunct professor. Conway is Bassett administrative director of surgery in Cooperstown. Mitchell is a SUNY adjunct professor and Clark Sports Center fitness instructor.

CCS Tennis Team Wins League Tourney
With 31 points, CCS’ tennis team won the CSC Tournament Saturday, April 30, in Utica, with Will Derouin and Joe Kevlin taking first-place laurels in singles.
Sauquoit Valley scored 29, Mount Markham 22, Hamilton 21, Westmoreland 21, Little Falls 19, Ilion 15, Morrisville-Eaton 14, Canastota 13, Waterville 9, Herkimer 7.

Clark Plans Foot, Bike Combo Race
The Clark Sports Center’s inaugural run-bike-run Just “Du” It Duathlon is Sunday, May 15. Go to http://www.clarksportscenter.com/events/duathlon/ for race registration forms.
Registration starts at 9 a.m.; the race, at 10:30. Athletes can participate singly or as a team (one runner, one biker). The 3.35-mile running loop (run twice) is on sports center grounds, followed by an 18-mile bike course down Route 33 to Milford and back to the Clark on Route 166.

Hall of Fame Headliners Due At Classic
Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Goose Gossage, Phil Niekro, Tony Pérez, Jim Rice, Ozzie Smith and Dick Williams are among the headliners at the third annual Hall of Fame Classic 2 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at Doubleday Field.
Tickets are available at 1-866-849-7770 or by visiting www.baseballhall.org. They are $12.50 for first and third base seats and $11 for outfield seats. Call 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 9 a.m-6 p.m. Saturdays.

Items for The Sports Beat nay be e-mailed to Sport Editor Eric Ahlqvist at eahlqvist@hotmail.com

While Grown Men Cry, Pacherille Pleads Guilty

2011-05-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

TEEN’S FATHER VOWS TO APPEAL

Boy Faces 8-11 Years In Shooting

COOPERSTOWN

Family photos from www.pacherille.com
At Christmas, age 3.

The future baseball star.

After pleading guilty to attempted murder – in the end, not as a hate crime – in last year’s Good Friday shooting, Anthony N. Pacherille, 17, will return to Otsego County Court at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 22, to learn his fate.
Appearing before Judge Brian D. Burns Friday, April 29, at a hearing punctuated with drama, the teen pleaded guilty to a single charge for the attempted murder of classmate Wesley M. Lippitt in the second degree.
The plea Pacherille agreed to with District Attorney John Muehl would send him to state prison for 11 years, followed by five years of post-release super-PLEA/From A1
vision. With time served and good behavior, he could be home in eight years, when he is 25.
On Friday, April 2, 2010 – Good Friday – Pacherille discharged two rounds from a .22-caliber rifle at Lippitt, who was struck in the arm by one round. The other round missed Lippitt but came close to hitting Cooperstown Police Officer Jim Cox. Pacherille then fired a third bullet into his chin; it lodged behind his eye, centimeters from what would have been a fatal spot.
The shootings occurred in front of the glass window of the Cooperstown police station in the lower level of the Village Hall, where Lippitt had fled from Pacherille after he was chased from nearby Cooper Park, where the encounter began.
Pacherille had been charged with second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime, but the hate-crime component, which could have had Pacherille serving up to 25 years, was dropped. However, Muehl required Pacherille to say on the stand that he chose to shoot Lippitt because he was black.
The three-page, hand-written suicide note, which included derogatory references to several races, was not read aloud. However, it became part of the court record and copies were provided to the Lippitt family and members of the media.
Responding to a series of questions from Judge Burns, Pacherille said he intended that day to “shoot myself and someone else.” Twice, Pacherille stated he chose to shoot Lippitt “because he was an African-American.”
Pacherille asked the judge to repeat questions several times and also occasionally consulted with his lawyer, E. Stuart Jones of Troy, before answering, “Yes, your honor,” or, “No, your honor.”
The hearing, which had been scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., was not called until 2:08 p.m. It concluded at 2:38 p.m. The Pacherille case was delayed as the court heard other matters and allowed time for consultations regarding last-minute refinements to the plea agreement.
Pacherille’s guilty plea forestalls what may have been a lengthy trial, scheduled to commence on May 23. Otsego County officials were about to issue jury summonses to 300 county residents, and weeks of court time had been set aside for the trial.
From Pacherille’s standpoint, by pleading guilty, he avoids the possibility of receiving a substantially longer sentence, particularly if convicted of a hate crime. However, the defendant’s father, Tony Pacherille, that evening characterized the plea bargain as “extortion,” and would use it as the basis of an appeal.
According to the father, Burns summoned the son and his lawyer to a conference Tuesday, April 26, where he pointed out that, even if found not guilty by reason of insanity, the boy could find himself in the state psychiatric system, perhaps for life. He said any plea agreement must be completed by Thursday, April 28.
That, said the father, amounted to coercion. He added that community leaders had encouraged the plea deal so a racially charged trial would not be under way when the tourism season began.
The judge said that, due to constraints under which he must operate, he was unable to comment. However, the district attorney in an interview denied any coercion and said tourism influenced the case in no way. He said the judge had to convene 300 potential jurors by that Friday and, if he did, the trial would then go forward.
The courtroom’s spectator area filled up to near-capacity by 1 p.m. Eventually, more than 100 persons were seated on the pew-like benches which roughly divide the stained-glass main courtroom into two sectors.
Members of the Pacherille family and many of their supporters sat in the spectator area behind the defense counsel’s desk, where Pacherille and his lawyer were sitting. Seated with the Pacherille family was Father John P. Rosson, pastor of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Catholic Church, an adherent of his young parishioner’s innocence.
Earlier, as their son was brought from the Otsego County Jail to the courthouse at 12:50 p.m., Pacherille’s parents and several relatives and friends stood waiting near the entry to the building for security officers to admit members of the public.
As correctional guards escorted their son to the entrance, dressed in a horizontally striped jail jumpsuit, shackled and handcuffed, with his head bowed, the defendant’s father called out, “Be strong, Anthony.” A woman in the group also called out, “Say hello to your mother,” as the prisoner was led through the door.
The Lippitt family, including Wesley, took seats in the spectator area behind prosecutor John Muehl’s desk. Cooperstown Police Chief Diana Nicols was also present and a number of Wes’ CCS classmates were seated directly behind Lippitt and his parents.
As the hearing began, Judge Burns warned spectators that outbursts or disruption by spectators during the proceeding would not be tolerated. While recognizing there were “emotions” on both sides in this case, the judge added, “This is not the place to express your emotions. Decorum prevails here. You need to conduct yourselves appropriately.”
At the judge’s invitation, prosecutor Muehl described a taped telephone conversation that took place the night before, where Pacherille’s father, a lawyer, instructed his son in what the D.A. characterized as a plan to disrupt, and potentially nullify, the results of the hearing.
(The father said later that he indeed called his son in prison, and knew the conversation was being taped, but did so out of concern that the son’s lawyer might have agreed to concessions that would not be in his son’s best interests. His concern was prompted by an erroneous report on www.thedailystar.com Thursday afternoon – repeated in the print edition the next morning – that the teen had agreed to plead to a hate crime. If that appeared to be happening, the father intended to signal the son to declare he was firing his lawyer, which would have brought the hearing to an end.)
Judge Burns then reiterated his warnings regarding court decorum, speaking directly to the father and to other members of the Pacherille family and their supporters.
Minutes later, as Judge Burns questioned the defendant regarding his intentions on Friday, April 2, 2010, a voice from the Pacherille section was heard saying, “It’s a lie.” The statement was repeated three times by the same person. Other members seated in the Pacherille section were heard muttering and there were sounds of crying. Men and women were weeping in the courtroom, and in continued outside as they watched Anthony escorted in handcuffs and ankle bracelets to the van that would return him to the prison.
County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin approached the seating area and reported to Judge Burns, “I can take the whole row out,” referring to the Pacherilles. In the end, only one man – an uncle – was escorted from the room and the judge allowed the others to remain, including the defendant’s father. No further interruptions occurred.
As part of the plea agreement, Pacherille agreed to waive his rights to appeal. However, by statute in New York, there are only three reason to appeal a plea: “ineffective counsel,” “an involuntary plea” or the “imposition of an illegal sentence.” The appeal must be made within 30 days of sentencing.
Muehl said he settled on the 11-year proposal only after serious soul-searching. If he sought the 20+ years a hate-crime conviction could trigger, Anthony would be incarcerated until his mid-30s. In eight years, he would be in his mid-20s, young enough to fit in at college and begin to rebuild his life, the prosecutor said.
Asked about fears the teen could be injured, even fatally, in prison, Muehl said he couldn’t remember the last time a jail-house slaying occurred in New York State, and expressed confidence Anthony would be secure, and would also receive needed psychological treatment.
In coming weeks, the county Probation Department will compile a pre-sentence report which will become part of the court record when he reappears on Friday, July 22, for formal imposition of his sentence.

Practicing at St. Mary’s.

With dad and dog.

Amanda Hoepker/The Freeman’s Journal
Anthony Pacherille, 17, is led to the van that carried him back to Otsego County Jail after he entered a guilty plea.

Silvera, Wehner, Reis Expected To Shine At Don Howard Invitational

2011-05-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

By ERIC AHLQVIST -Sports Editor

The Freeman’s Journal
CCS’ Alec Silvera heads for a school record at last year’s Don Howard Invitational. He’s a favorite again this year.

Longtime Cooperstown track coach Don Howard started the Cooperstown Invitational in 1989 as a way to get all the local schools together for a day of competition.
Last year, though, there was not much competition on the boys’ side as the host Redskins won 12 of 17 events and amassed over 200 points, the first time a team had done that in the first 21 years of the meet.
Star-studded Cooperstown figures to flex its muscles once again this Saturday, May 6, when it welcomes 11 schools to the 2 p.m. meet, renamed the Don Howard Invitational in 2007.
Headlining CCS’ strong squad is senior Alec Silvera, who won a Division II gold medal in the 110 hurdles at the state meet last year. Silvera’s teammate, Chris Wehner, is also strong in the 110 hurdles. Josh Winchester of Unatego should also be in the mix, CCS head coach Joe Kennedy said.
“The lead story for Cooperstown this year is our middle-distance team, led by senior Will Reis and supported by juniors Jeremiah Ford and Jacob Miller,” Kennedy said. “All three of these athletes won medals at the state championships last year, and have a repeat trip in their sights for this year.”
Reis runs everything from the mile to the 400, Kennedy said, and has an area-best time (2:01.26) in the 800 this season.
Reis and Oneonta’s Zach Rabeler will duel in the 800 in one of the most anticipated local races of the day, Kennedy said.
“They are ranked first and second in the area in the event and will be seeded about one second apart,” he said.
Ford and Miller ran with Reis (and now-graduated Caleb Edmonds) to a fourth-place showing at States last spring in the 3200 relay.
“Ford has branched out this year, showing his versatility in the 110 hurdles (16.7) and 400 hurdles, (area best 58.72), as well as running on the 4x100 relay in addition to the 4x400 and the 4x800,” Kennedy said.
Miller has yet to lose a 400-meter race this season.
Wes Lippitt is Cooperstown’s best chance to score in the 100 and the 200, and will also run on Cooperstown’s 400 relay, according to Kennedy.
Brandon Daniels, a senior shot putter, has an area leading 44-9.5 throw in the shot and also leads the area in the discus, 112-4.   He will be favored to score well in both events.
Kennedy said races of particular interest on Saturday will be in the 100 and 200. Eddie Cotton of G-MU (11.44 in the 100) and David Van Alstine of Unatego as well as Lippitt of Cooperstown (11.6) will make the 100 extremely competitive, he said.
On the girls’ side, Oneonta is the favorite to defend its title of a year ago, said CCS head coach Connie Herzig.
“They have star power and they are very balanced,” she said.
Herzig said the high jump should be one to watch, with three area athletes already clearing 5-2 this season. Herzig said Oneonta’s Christie O’Connor is the “high jump queen,” and Cooperstown’s Lucy Ford and Oneonta’s Brittney Herrick are also top performers.
Freshman Haley Hohensee should be competitive in the 200 and 400 and also runs in the 4x100 relay; and fellow junior Katelynn Kiuber is second in the area in the long jump with a distance of 15-6.
Traditional powers Sidney and B-GA will not attend the meet, but should return again next season.

‘Talking Opera’ Series To Begin

2011-05-05T11:03:00.001-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

The Glimmerglass Opera Guild’s “Talking Opera” series begins at 7 p.m. Monday, May 9, at Christ Episcopal Church, featuring Charlotte Greenspan, author of “Pick Yourself Up: Dorothy Fields and the American Musical.”

Subsequent programs include:
• Monday, May 16 - An in-depth look at Medea, the legend and the music, with SUNY Oneonta Theatre and Music Department faculty.
• Monday, May 23 - The many faces and facets of Carmen.
• Monday, June 6 - David Angus: “The Glimmerglass Orchestra - the Music Director’s View.”
Programs continue Mondays through June 17.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-05-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

HELP ON WAY:
The village is seeking emergency bids for engineering to repair a storm sewer behind 11 Walnut St. after recent heavy rains caused raw sewage to pour into a backyard there.

TROPHY HERE:
The San Francisco Giants’ 2010 World Series trophy will be on display Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

ALL FOR MOM:
On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, all moms will be admitted for free at the Fenimore and Farmers’ Museums. The day before, a flower will be presented to each mom attending the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market.

GARDEN HELP:
Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners are available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. most weekdays to answer your questions. Call 547-2536 ext. 228 or e-mail mastergardener-otsego@cornell.edu.

ON THE FARM:
The Farmers’ Museum is recruiting teens, age 12-14, for this summer’s Young Interpreter program. Apply by May 15 at 547-1457, or e-mail g.miner@nysha.org.

Amanda Hoepker/The Freeman’s Journal
Upcoming inductee Bruce Blyleven felt “chills” while touring the Hall of Fame during his Tuesday, May 3, orientation

Film, Talk Focus On Organ Donation

2011-05-05T10:47:00.001-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Lisa Hamilton, Bassett RN, will discuss a personal experience with organ donations after a free screening of “Return to Me,” a romantic comedy with David Duchnovy and Minnie Driver dealing with the issue, at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6, in the Fenimore Art Museum auditorium.
“I really hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to see a wonderful movie while also learning more about the topic of organ donation,” said Hamilton.
A sister-in-law, Lori Holdridge, died suddenly at 45 and the family, after difficult discussion, donated organs that benefited six other people.
Bassett chief nursing officer Connie Jastremski and Heather Hickland from the Center for Organ Donation & Transplant will be available to answer questions

THE SPECTACLE(S) OF ART

2011-05-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal

CCS student Sarah Breiten holds up a pair of giant spectacles, one of the works that will be on display as part of Cooperstown Central School’s annual student art show, which opens with a reception 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 6, in the ballroom above the Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main. In the downstairs gallery, juried art show, “Essential Art,” and Ty Steinbacher’s “Memories of Cooperstown” will also open at that time.

Local Students Win Honors At NY History Day

2011-05-05T10:43:00.002-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

CCS’ Renee Friedman and Max Ofer took first place, Junior Group Performance, in New York History Day, which brought 450 students from around the state to Cooperstown on Friday, April 29.
Their project was “Haudenosaunee: Roots of Diplomacy,” on the Iroquois. Their teacher was Maggie Pokorny.
Sarah Siegel, also of CCS, took second place, Junior Individual Performance, for “Eleanor Roosevelt: A Magna Carta for Mankind.” Her teacher was also Mrs. Pokorny.
Shannon Sears, Cherry Valley, took third place, Junior Individual Exhibit, for “Fugitive Slave Act and the Trial of Anthony Burns.” Her teacher was Tracy Waterman.
The state contest, sponsored by NYSHA, is a year-long history education program for students in grades 6-12 to produce project on an annual theme.
First- and second-place winners in each category advance to National History Day at the University of Maryland, College Park, in June, to compete with history scholars from throughout the country.
Competition around town culminated in an awards assembly at CCS’ Sterling Auditorium that evening.

Sam Goodyear Back In The NYT Limelight

2011-05-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Sam Goodyear, who is returning to the Otsego Lake region from the Big Apple for the summer, had another item in the New York Times’ Metropolitan Diary the other day.
“Dear Diary:
“With all the hand-wringing about the Broadway musical in general, and a certain catastrophe-prone, opening-someday production in particular, here’s a ray of sunshine:
“I was walking along upper Broadway with a friend when a mutual acquaintance named Cindy popped up in the conversation.
“Remembering a song popular in the 1950s, I immediately began to sing out:
“‘Cindy, oh Cindy. ...’
“A well-dressed business type coming toward us picked up the tune, smiling and without breaking stride, sang:
“‘Cindy, don’t let me down. ...’
From behind, the doorman of a big apartment building:
“‘Write me a letter soon. ...’
“The notes floated up into the night air.
“And they say the Broadway musical is dead.”
Sam will resume his column writing for this newspaper on June 1, under the title, “The Music Man.”

Ahlqvist, Austin Cudmore Expand Newpapers’ Reach

2011-05-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

Seeking to expand its service to the Otsego County community, Hometown Oneonta & The Freeman’s Journal this week adds a sports editor, photographer and reporter to its editorial effort.
They are Eric Ahlqvist, Ian Austin and Libby Cudmore respectively.
“Without community support, this simply wouldn’t have been possible,” said Bill Reeves, Hometown Oneonta publisher.
“We thank Cooperstown for its enduring commitment to one of the country’s oldest newspapers, and Oneonta for embracing one of the youngest,” added Jim Kevlin, editor of both papers and Freeman’s Journal publisher.
Eric Ahlquist, after graduating from Hartwick College in 1990, worked for the Daily Star and Cooperstown Crier until February. During his tenure with the newspapers, he won five New York State Press Association Awards for sports writing.
He has been a familiar presence on both the Oneonta and Cooperstown sports scenes, and has wide experience in covering the local sports scene.
He lives in Laurens with his wife, Kelly, and daughter, Emily.
Ian Austin is a Oneonta artist, illustrator and photographer. As a working artist, Ian has painted sets for The Oneonta Stage Players, Orpheus Theater and the SUNY Oneonta Theater Department, contributed drawings to the O-Town Scene, freelanced for the Daily Star and still finds time to manage the Oneonta Teen Center.
He is a graduate of Sage college at Albany and The School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he studied graphic design and Illustration.
Ian has been freelancing for Hometown Oneonta since he was observed climbing onto a roof to get pictures during the initial Bresees’ demolition.
Libby Cudmore’s stories and essays have been published in PANK, KneeJerk, The Postcard Press, Connotation Press, The Yalobusha Review, the MacGuffin, Criminal Class Review, The Midnight Diner (where she is also an editor) Crime Factory, Celebrities in Disgrace, Xenith and many other magazines.
She was Long Story Short’s Author of the Year in 2004, wrote The Subway Chronicles Essay of the Year in 2004, was a 2005 Finalist for the Writers of the Future Award, a 2009 Bullet Award winner and a 2010 Derringer Award Finalist.
She attended Binghamton University.
Libby and Ian live in Oneonta with Bosco, The World’s Cutest Kitten.

Please, Get Rid Of Those Absurb Prison Uniforms

2011-05-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

If nothing else good comes out of the Anthony Pacherille case, can we at least get rid of those anachronistic black-and-white striped uniforms the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department reintroduced with the election of Sheriff Rich Devlin?
They are ridiculous and heart-sinking at the same time, bringing to mind both Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and mistreatment of prisoners, many black, in the Jim Crow South.
Previously, county inmates wore bright orange jumpsuits with “inmate” clearly marked on the back. No one was in danger of mistaking anyone of them for Scouts.
Anyone of us who aspires to see Otsego County as buoyant, forward-looking, problem-solving community must cringe every time a striped and shackled crew comes into view.
Most county jail inmates are local people and shorttermers who will be back among us in a few months. Treating them with respect and consideration certainly is a more successful strategy then demeaning and humiliating them.
Let’s get with the 21st Century.

The poster from a Paul Muni movie from 1932 shows the black-and-white striped uniforms, the common garb for chain gangs in the South.

Amanda Hoepker/The Freeman’s Journal
Almost 80 years later, Anthony Pacherille and another inmate in the same black-and-white when led into Otsego County Court Friday, April 29.

Blyleven First ‘Dutchman’ In Hall Of Fame

2011-05-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

BRUCE MARKUSEN : COOPERSTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

For Bert Blyleven, a third visit to Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame has meant the most.
He first came to the village in 1980 as a member of the defending world champion Pittsburgh Pirates, in town to play the Chicago White Sox in the annual Hall of Fame game. He then returned as a member of the Minnesota Twins’ broadcast team, with whom he has worked for the last 16 years.
This time around, he visited Cooperstown for a more pointed reason: to prepare for his official induction into the Hall on Sunday, July 24.
Dressed casually in jeans and a tan jacket and sporting a crew cut, Blyleven took his orientation tour of the Hall of Fame on Tuesday afternoon, May 3. As he met with reporters in the Hall’s Plaque Gallery, he expressed reverence for the place in which he stood. “If you’re a history buff, a baseball history buff, then you’re in heaven,” said Blyleven in describing the complex that he had toured for the past two hours. “It’s a kid’s place. It’s paradise.”
Born in the Netherlands, Blyleven moved to the States with his family when he was a young boy. Though he spent only a short time in Holland, he will bring some of his own national pride to the Hall. “I’m the first Dutchman in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “That’s very special. I’m very proud of that.”
Blyleven was 6 when his family settled in Southern California. He quickly became a fan of California’s most popular major league team: “I grew up following the Dodgers. I fell in love with baseball in Southern California.”
By watching Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax, Blyleven began to hone his own standout curve ball, which would become the trademark of his long career in the major leagues. “Koufax threw a curve ball that was a drop curve. It went from top to bottom. That’s the kind of curve I threw.”
Blyleven’s father wouldn’t let him throw the curve until he was 14, out of fear that he might hurt his talented right arm. “My father was a big man. He told me not to throw a curve until I was 14, and I listened.”
The advice paid off. Blyleven became one of the most durable and dependable pitchers of his era. In a major league career that spanned 22 seasons, Blyleven posted an ERA of 3.31 and won 287 games against 250 losses. He would have won more, possibly reaching 300 victories, with better run support and better teams behind him.
(The four seasons he spent with the Cleveland Indians in the early 1980s particularly hurt his win total.) Best remembered as a member of the Twins, Blyleven spent half of his career in Minnesota, while also making stops with the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, the Indians, and California Angels.

Cooperstown Confidential is at http://bruce.mlblogs.

Seth Schaeffer, With 1,700 Points, Heads To CCS Hall Of Fame

2011-05-05T09:59:00.001-07:00

By ERIC AHLQVIST - Sports Editor : COOPERSTOWN

The 2011 Cooperstown High School Athletic Hall of Fame class is headed by 1994 graduate Seth Schaeffer, the all-time leading scorer in basketball with over 1,700 career points.
Schaeffer also holds the school record for most three-point shots in a season and career, and most points scored in a game with 51 against Proctor. Schaeffer went on to play Division One basketball at Colgate University and twice played in the NCAA Tournament.
Schaeffer’s basketball teammate, Reid Nagelschmidt, is also among the seven individuals to be inducted next fall.
Nagelschmidt, a 1995 graduate, scored 1,065 career points in basketball, but it was on the baseball diamond where he left his lasting legacy. Nagelschmidt holds the program record for strikeouts and runs batted in, and earned a baseball scholarship to Division One St. Bonaventure.
State-champion wrestler Packy Burke, a 1996 graduate, was also elected. Burke went 41-0 during his senior season, culminating with a victory in the 130-pound state final match. Burke had a career record of 192-16 and lost in the state finals during his junior season.
Three-sport star Bud Lippitt, a 1995 graduate and current physical education teacher at Cooperstown Elementary School, is also an honoree. Lippitt had 96 career wins in wrestling, and holds the career baseball record for doubles and triples. Lippitt was also a two-way starter for the football team.
Another three-sport star, 1991 graduate Tim Osterhoudt, is among the electees. Osterhoudt scored 60 career goals in soccer and scored 930 points during his basketball career. He was also a sectional champion in the triple jump for the boys track team during his junior and senior seasons. He played basketball at Hartwick College, and is the school’s 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,308 career points.
The Hall of Fame Committee also elected two female athletes, Megan Sanford and Renee Welch.
Cooperstown girls track coach Connie Herzig said Sanford was the best female sprinter the school has ever had. She qualified for the state meet in track during her senior year and was a five-time All Star in soccer.
The other female inductee is Renee Welch, a 1997 graduate and three sport athlete. Welch still holds the school record in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meter runs, and qualified for the state meet her senior year.
Three teams were also elected to the Athletic Hall, including the 1999 girls soccer team, the 1991 boys soccer team and the 1994 girls track and field team.

THE ART OF NOT GAMBLING

2011-04-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

These are among the finalists in LEAF Inc.’s anti-gambling art contest, The grand winner of the $1,000 prize will be announced during a reception and poetry reading, 6-10 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the UCCCA gallery, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta....

Should You Be Worried About Gambling? Take This Test And Find Out
This is the self-diagnostic test to determine if you might have a gambling problem, developed Gamblers Anonymous:
• Did you every lose time from work or school due to gambling?
• Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
• Did gambling affect your reputation?
• Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
• Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
• Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
• After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
• After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
• Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
• Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
• Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
• Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
• Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of your family?
• Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
• Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
• Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
• Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
• Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
• Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?

“The Queen’s Laughing At You,” by Doug Jamieson, Treadwell

“The Loser,” by Alyssa Smith,
SUNY Oneonta

“Storm Clouds,” by Barbara Murray Sullivan,
Cooperstown

Despite Economy, Springbrook Soars

2011-04-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

$25 Million Addition Starts Opening In Fall

Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Fred Seidel of Syracuse retrieves a tool from his pickup during construction of Springbrook’s new gym.

By JIM KEVLIN : MILFORD CENTER

You don’t see some of the most important construction work: The infrastructure – water pipes, sewerage, drainage, Springbrook’s executive director, Patricia Kennedy, will tell you.
Perhaps so, but there’s plenty above ground to capture your attention.
As you surely have noticed, while driving up and down Route 28, the largest construction project in the region – Springbrook’s $25 million expansion, five years in the planning – has been rising apace.
You’ve seen the deceptively delicate steel beams spanning the 10,000-square-foot gym where, for the first time, disabled youngsters will be able to play full-court basketball.
You probably haven’t noticed the low-slung new classroom building, 6,700 square feet, tucked behind the 1960s main building; that’s rising quickly, too.
In a major enhancement of student safety, the renovations will result a pedestrian campus, circled by a single arterial road, separating people from traffic except at a couple of crossings.
The main parking lot will be in front of the campus, accessed directly from Edson Road, which runs west from Route 28; employees will park there, then walk up steps to the main building.
The buses that bring students to school will enter the arterial at the far end of Edson, then will circle up, drop the youngsters off at a new cafeteria – construction is still to begin – then circle directly out onto Edson again.
That ‘60s-like half-octagon bay that sticks out of the front of the main building – Kennedy makes a face – will be removed.
But the crowning achievement – the three “cottages,” 5,000-square-feet each – is visible to all, speeding toward completion atop the hill at the back of the campus with panoramic views north along the upper Susquehanna Valley.
Always the height of fashion, Kennedy was deftly navigating the muddy grounds around those Craftsman-style cottages after last week’s heavy rains in black high-heels, guiding a tour past the roaring heavy equipment into what will be a refuge where the most challenged autistic youngsters will live.
“They have so many things working against them, let’s have an environment working for them,” said Kennedy, referring to the two dozen residents who will start coming home from out-of-state institutions by this fall.
Inside, caulkers, painters and tile-layers create a whirlwind of activity.
But you can see how the sheltered interior, soothing colors, private bedrooms, even time-out rooms where the residents, if they need to, can cool off alone, will provide the atmosphere Kennedy desires.
Each cottage has a central module that includes a sitting room, dining room and kitchen. (Eventually, some of the residents will be able to cook for themselves, but supervised.) Two four-bedroom wings fold off on each side.
“We’ve been as ‘green’ as we can possibly be,” Kennedy added.
The expanded campus – it will add 100 permanent jobs to what, with 900 jobs, is already the fifth largest employer in Otsego County – began in 2007 with an RFP (request for proposals) from the state: The goal, to start bringing the most severely autistic youngsters closer to home.
There was a humanitarian reason for this, to allow their families to more easily visit. And a fiscal one: The money saved on expensive out-of-state tuition will more than pay for the in-state expansions.
Most of the institutions that submitted proposals and were funded had space in existing buildings, but Kennedy believes Springbrook’s idyllic rural setting, amid fields, across from Goodyear Lake, with the namesake brook bubbling past Edson Road, put the local project on the approved list.
The state’s $15 million paid for a “bare bones” project. Another $5 million was obtained. Then, Paychex founder Tom Golisano, the former gubernatorial candidate, visited the campus and offered a $2.5 million challenge grant. The match, raised locally, was fulfilled a few weeks ago and announced at Springbrook’s annual April gala at The Otesaga.
Two decades ago, most of Springbrook’s students were physically and mentally handicapped. “A lot of those children, now we’re supporting in their homes,” said Kennedy.
The new challenge is autism, which is being diagnosed at an accelerating pace. It’s a confounding ailment – it can be mild; it can be severe – but the goal here is to apply the “best technology” and practices to allow these teens to live productively.
“On the spectrum,” said Kennedy of her prospective students, “these will be on the upper end. This is the last shot for some of these people.”

John Charbonneau, Watervliet, cuts floor tiles in the hilltop cottages.

Rocky Martini, Unadilla, is on the crew studding out the cafeteria.

Village’s Workers Unionize

2011-04-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Crew Signs Cards For Teamsters 693

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

The Teamsters are coming – again, the Village Board has been advised.
Enough village employees have signed solicitation cards that Teamsters Local 693 has gained the right to represent them in negotiations, Village Attorney Martin Tillapaugh told the trustees Monday, April 25.
The village received notice from the state Public Employee Relations Board advising them of the development, and the trustees asked for verification of the signatures, which Tillapaugh said is a routine step at this point.
The letter from the PERB listed HEOs (heavy equipment operators), laborers and all members of the street, sewer, water, parks and Public Works departments, according to Village Clerk Teri Barown.
The letter was not specific, she said, but position-by-position specifics will be provided when the process goes to the next step.
Teamsters 693 already represents police officers, and the village recently negotiated its second contract with that unit.
The trustees appeared surprised at the development.
“We don’t really have contracts currently,” said Trustee Lynne Mebust.
“You will now,” Tillapaugh replied.
Until now, village crew members have represented themselves, negotiating informally with the village on pay and benefits. Under the strictures of the state’s Taylor Law, it will be tightly structured, the attorney said.
Negotiations with the new Teamsters unit will begin “from a blank piece of paper,” said Mayor Joe Booan.
Maybe, said Tillapaugh, but the unit will seek to negotiate from the current levels of wages and benefits.
The generosity of the village contribution to employee health insurance has been discussed recently by trustees seeking to bring it in line with general standards.
Perhaps some money can be saved in that area, said Deputy Mayor Walter Franck.

Cooperstown, Oneonta Teams To Play Twice

2011-04-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Oneonta Outlaws and Cooperstown Hawkeyes will be playing two non-league exhibition games this year.
The first is at 5 p.m., Thursday, June 16, at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field. The second is at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Oneonta’s Damaschke Field.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-04-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

HERE, GONE: Prospective inductee Roberto Alomar slipped in and out of Cooperstown Tuesday, April 25, for his Hall of Fame orientation. (Details, A13)

STILL TALKING: Diana Nicols remains as Cooperstown police chief as negotiations continue on her retirement and to resolve her lawsuit against the village.

LOTS OF RUMMAGE: Big tag sales are planned Saturday and Sunday, April 30-May 1, Cooperstown Rotary’s at Railroad and Leatherstocking and the OCCA’s in Pioneer Alley.

READY TO TAZE: Cooperstown’s police officers have undergone a day’s training and been certified in the use of the Taser X26 Electronic Control Devise.

FROM THE PAST: 400 high schoolers from across the state are due at NYSHA Friday, April 29, for New York History Day competitions.

The Freeman’s Journal
Augie, Martina and Cecilia Franck, visiting relatives from New Jersey, were among the youngsters who greeted the Easter bunny in Lakefront Park Saturday, April 23, then escorted the rabbit to festivities at the Tunnicliff Inn.

BASSETT VP:

2011-04-28T09:38:00.004-07:00

Scott Bonderoff has been named Bassett Hospital’s vice president for Patient Services, providing administrative oversight to the lab, cardiovascular imaging center, radiology, emergency services, service excellence, patient access services and call handling.

Nominations OK’d For Village Committees

2011-04-28T09:38:00.002-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Deputy Mayor Walter Franck has named Dick Blabey, Carolyn Lewis and Tim Hayes to the Village Board’s new Economic Sustainability Committee.
He is also seeking representation from the Clark Foundation and the CCS board.
Chairman Jim Dean nominated Jeanne Dewey, Kathy Raddatz and Jim Herman to the new Environmental Conservation Committee.

Cellist To Teach At Local Arts Center

2011-04-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Cellist David Gibson, a graduate of Juilliard and Yale, is offering classes at the Cooperstown Performing Arts Center, 103 Main St.
Gibson, who recently retired to Gilbertsville, taught cello privately and at colleges and universities such as Bennington, Mount Holyoke, RPI, the Hartt School Community Division, and Mannes Conservatory Preparatory Division for 40 years.
He has also maintained a performing career as a soloist, conductor, and chamber musician and coach.
Specializing in students as young as 5, he has placed students in major conservatories in the country. At one point, 10 former students of his were studying at Juilliard at the same time.
Gibson’s wife Kathryn has taken an administrative position at Hartwick College, and their daughter Lindsay lives in the area. The Gibsons are very familiar with Cooperstown because David’s great uncle was Louis C. Jones, a Cooperstown legend.

RN Veseley Wins Association Prize

2011-04-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Coleen Vesely, R.N., B.S.N., coordinator of Bassett Hospital’s Trauma and Stroke Program, received the Ginny Hens Emergency Medical Services Award during the state Emergency Nurses Association meeting April 8 in Saratoga Springs.
Vesely, a certified emergency nurse and certified pediatric emergency nurse, has worked at Bassett for 19 years, in the ICU and the Emergency Department.

GOING FOR THE GREEN

2011-04-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Paul Donnelly for The Freeman’s Journal

Ethan Dilorenzo tries out the greens at the Leatherstocking Golf Course Tuesday, April 26, as The Otesaga opened for the season. A CCS graduate who played on the golf team, Ethan has been attending SUNY Cobleskill, but hopes to transfer to SUNY Delhi for its turf-management program. The resort hotel had opened four days before with a reception in the lobby, where pianist Mark Lubell performed.

TAUGHER KIN HONOR PATRIARCH

2011-04-28T09:33:00.001-07:00

The family of Stuart P. Taugher, left, the former mayor, county representative and a force in the establishment of the Cooperstown Emergency Squad, gathered at Doubleday Field Monday, April 25, for the unveiling of a plaque in the patriarch’s memory. “His appreciation of Doubleday Field led to a renewed appreciation for this important piece of baseball history,” the plaque reads in part. Mayor Joe Booan and Ted Peters, a colleague of Taugher’s in community-improvement efforts, spoke. Taugher and wife Jody raised five daughters on Maple Street, four of whom were at the ceremony: seated from left, twins Jacqueline Ruck and Colleen Sheldon, both of Milford, Pa.; Karen Taugher, New Hartford, and Patricia Schultz, Fly Creek. (The fifth daughter, Marcia Pugliese, Cooperstown, was ill and could not attend.) Standing are, from left, Jacqueline’s husband Richard; Colleen’s husband Scott and their son Liam; granddaughter Stephanie Nelen and her children, daughter Rory, son Miles and baby Lanie (on Colleen’s lap); granddaughter Bridget Bertram and her son Tyler; granddaughter Jacqueline Sheldon, and granddaughter Rebecca McManus with husband Jon and son Park.

Alomar Gets His Hall Footing

2011-04-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

By CRAIG MUDER : COOPERSTOWN

Roberto Alomar was born into a world of baseball.
On Tuesday, April 24, Alomar made his first pilgrimage to the home of baseball – and for Alomar, it felt like he was coming home.
Alomar, one of three members of the Class of 2011 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, visited Cooperstown for the first time as part of the annual Orientation Tour for new electees. Looking confident and relaxed in blue jeans and a black blazer, Alomar learned about the Hall and the July 22-25 Induction Weekend – when he will return to Cooperstown to be enshrined along with Bert Blyleven and Pat Gillick.
“It’s unbelievable – a dream for me,” said Alomar, whose induction is Sunday, July 24. “Getting to know some of the history of the ballplayers I never saw. When I was a little boy, all I wanted was to play the game of baseball. Now to be here… it’s amazing just to be walking around here.”
As part of the tour, Alomar saw a screening of “The Baseball Experience,” the film that greets Museum visitors as they enter the Hall of Fame. At the end of the film, the 43-year-old Alomar found himself singing along with former Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray during “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

Marilu Lopez Fretts/National Baseball Hall of Fame Library
Roberto Alomar examines Rickey Henderson’s plaque during his orientation Tuesday, April 24.

Touch Of Vesuvius Arrives Locally Inside Brick Oven

2011-04-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Restaurateur Joe Vezza, who plans to open Bocca Osteria to the south of the village in a few weeks, peers inside the hand-made brick oven from Stefano Ferrara, Naples, Italy, that arrived in the village Monday, April 18.

At 8 a.m. sharp Monday, April 18, a Mediterranean Shipping Co. flatbed pulled up to the log-sided restaurant just south of the village.
Inside the shipping container was rarity for these parts, a 6,200-pound hand-made brick oven from Stefano Ferrara, a century-old family-run enterprise in Naples, Italy.
Inside the rarity is a novelty: The bricks are made from ash spewed forth by Mount Vesuvius, which famously buried the resort town of Pompeii in 79 A.D.
“They are able to withstand 900 degrees,” said Joe Vezza, the restaurateur who by the end of May plans to open Bocca Osteria, a full-service restaurant, in the former Java Joe’s building, now expanded.
This didn’t just happen. Vezza, proprietor of New York Pizzerias in Cooperstown and Richfield
Springs, researched who produced the best brick ovens in the world.
To verify his findings, he took road trips – to Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria in Denver, Colo., and Dough Pizzeria in San Antonio, Texas – in a quest that eventually identified Stefano Ferrara, which operates in the U.S. under the name, Uno Forno, (one oven).
The company’s namesake founded his enterprise in 1920 in Naples, birthplace of Pizza Napoletana. (GIs stationed in Italy brought back a craving for the spicy flat disc of dough to the U.S. after World War II.)
Stefano passed the company to his son, Natale, who passed it to his son, also Stefano. Today, it has the reputation for quality that Vezza was seeking.
Because of its high temperatures, the Ferrara oven can cook a pizza pie in 90 seconds. Also, Vezza and his chefs will be able to top a dish with cheese, pop it into the oven and have the cheese melted in a flash.
Vezza’s mother’s brother, Fiorentino Falso, has been making pizzas in very similar ovens in a Naples trattoria, and he will be arriving in Cooperstown May 6 to help his nephew in the new undertaking.
Does he plan any specialty pizzas? “There is no specialty pizza,” Vezza replies. “They are ALL specialty pizzas.”
But that’s not all. While his existing parlors offer some dishes beyond pizza, 50-seat Bocca Osteria will offer a full menu – inspired in part by his mother’s cuisine when Joe was growing up in Utica – and a full bar and wine list.
“Italian bistro-style. Sit down. Casual attire. Moderately priced,” Vezza describes it in his staccato style. “I want locals. I want to be open all year, for local people to come by and enjoy themselves.”

What Vezza saw inside the oven were these bricks, made from the ashes of Mount Vesuvius, and thus able to withstand temperatures up to 900 degrees.

Deal Due For Chief To Depart

2011-04-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

They answered the second question first, and it became clear that Police Chief Diana Nicols’ retirement application has been approved, and she will soon be leaving the helm of the village Police Department.
What is about to happen surfaced when the village trustees Wednesday, April 13, began to debate how much to budget for police chief in the 2011-12 budget under consideration.
If the position were filled by an interim chief from the ranks, how much would that cost the village? In the course of filling the position, how much of the chief’s salary and benefits, a $97,000 per year cost, might be saved?
The chief was present and participated in the discussion. While details were sketchy, it appears Nicols has accepted a position in academe.
Village Attorney Martin H. Tillapaugh declined to discuss the matter, but said he expects the Village Board will be making a related decision at its monthly meeting on the 25th.
Mayor Joe Booan was out of town on vacation, and unavailable to discuss the matter, and the chief didn’t return phone calls.
Conceivably, the state Retirement Board decision – Nicols had been seeking to retire on disability for two years, since an ACL injury during job-related martial arts training – will clear the slate on a troubled picture in recent months.
The chief had been hired in 2005 – she had been an Oneonta patrolman for more than a decade – under the administration of former mayor Carol B. Waller, and tilted at various points with Waller’s successor, Mayor Booan.
The climactic disagreement came last summer, when Nicols clashed with Jane Forbes Clark, National Baseball Hall of Fame president, about whether village or state police should lead the Induction Weekend parade. Booan had told the chief to drop the matter.
Charged with insubordination, Nicols agreed to a one-week suspension, but then sued the Village of Cooperstown and Mayor Booan personally, arguing that her First Amendment rights had been impinged upon.
Since the Village Board supported Nicols’ retirement application this time, it might be expected that she will now drop her suit.
As the trustees debated the matter, the job description for the job – it doesn’t include filling actual shifts, although past chiefs, and Nicols before she was injured, have done so – was pinpointed.
“The job description, as written, does not warrant a full-time chief of police,” Booan said. The trustees appeared to agree it would be rewritten for Nicols’ successor.

What’s A Bigger Issue: Spending Or Revenues?

2011-04-21T09:40:00.001-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

If Mayor Joe Booan’s strategy was to cut costs, shift surpluses and aim the savings at addressing what he termed an infrastructure “crisis,” what was the new bloc’s counter-vision?
“What I see in Joe’s budget is nothing different then what I’ve seen in the six years I’ve been on the board,” Trustee Jeff Katz replied in an interview. “This tentative budget was presented as a new direction and a new way to handle our troubled streets. To me, that’s not accurate.”
He and Trustee Lynne Mebust are the two holdovers from the last board in a new governing bloc that appears to be forming. Newcomers are Trustees Jim Deane, Walter Franck and Ellen Kuch.
While no money was appropriated for temporary street repairs in 2010-11, Katz said, trustees had appropriated $120,000 the year before, Katz said. Recent boards have all tried to do a major street project every couple of years, he added.
The main difference between his approach and Booan’s, Katz said, is, “How you get that big money? That’s the big difference.
“The problem with not shifting some of the burden to our visitors is that we are losing what could be another consistent three- or four-hundred grand a year.
The law allowing paid parking to be expanded from the Doubleday parking lot to Main and Pioneer streets was repealed three months ago, and “I don’t have any plans of bringing it up,” Katz said, adding,
Trustee Mebust responded similarly: “You can’t just look at it from the spending side. You have to look at it from the revenue side. You just can’t cut jobs for road repairs.”

Nicols To Retire, But Clancy Stays

2011-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

New Bloc Adds Cut Jobs Back

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

If Mayor Joe Booan’s budget looked to take the Village of Cooperstown in a new direction, things are back to normal.
At the final budget meeting before the spring break, the new bloc on the Village Board, vote by vote, dismantled the Booan budget, adding back the $56,360 public-works superintendent position, held by Brian Clancy, and all other proposed personnel reductions except seasonal ones.
By the end of the evening Wednesday, April 13, the stable tax-rate Booan proposed had risen to a 4.28 percent increase, although Trustee Jeff Katz, a member of that new bloc, said it’s his intention to reduce the increase to zero again before the May 1 deadline for adoption.
Booan’s budget, presented to the outgoing Village Board Monday, March 21, sought to repair and rebuild the city’s streets and sidewalks in two budget cycles. To accomplish that, the Booan plan eliminated four fulltime equivalent (FTE) positions, three seasonal jobs, and sought to shift $300,000 from the water-fund surplus.
The new trustees – in the March 15 election, four candidates allied with Booan were defeated – took office April 1, and they now reset the priorities. In each case, either Trustee Lynne Mebust or Katz made the motion, and the other seconded it.

Except in one case – Trustee Willis Monie voted to add the street-department laborer job back in – the new bloc (Mebust, Katz and newly elected Jim Dean and Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch; Walter Franck was absent) enacted the changes.
The more than $130,000 in added-back personnel costs included:
• Restoring the police chief position to fulltime ($97,147) from the 3/10th time, adding $60,000 to Booan’s proposal. (See related story, Page A1.)
• A deputy treasurer, $20,512 (from the general fund; the water and sewer funds contributed additional amounts).
• Restoring parking officer from half- to fulltime, adding in $17,143.

At evening’s end, Katz proposed eliminating the 2 percent raise for village employees in the mayor’s budget, saving $22,000, and reduced $140,000 proposed for temporary road repairs to $100,000.
In an interview, Katz said it’s his intention to keep the tax rate stable with enhancements and cuts he’ll detail at the next – and perhaps final – budget session Tuesday, April 26.
On the Clancy position, Mebust said it was created as an information conduit between the water, sewer and streets departments and the trustees, without having to pay overtime, and to coordinate the three workforces.
In particular, she said, Clancy’s oversight role on village jobs that are abidded out is particularly important and cost-effective. “Paying someone $50,000 to save $500” – Clancy’s supplemental pay for overseeing the Irish Hill project – “is not a good strategy,” added Katz.
But Booan said the Irish Hill project had significant problems – too-narrow streets, a lack of curbs, poor drainage – but because the village’s public-works superintendent signed off on them, “we own the problem now.”
He also pointed out that the water, sewer and streets superintendents all said their departments would function unchanged if the position were eliminated.
Katz argued Booan’s budget is little different from what past boards have tried to do, but the mayor disagreed: “The street condition we have today is the direct evidence that what we’ve done in the past 10 years doesn’t work.”
He added, “If we stay disciplined, we can really make a difference in the quality of life in this village.”
On the part-time parking enforcement officer, which Booan had proposed limiting to six months, the tourist season, Mebust replied, “This is something that matters to residents.” Her block of Pioneer, she said, would be lined with parked cars if not for year-’round enforcement of the parking law.
Plus, she said, the revenues are needed. And fines collected in the off season – $10,920 – cover the cost of the position.
Off-season fines, the mayor replied, fall on local drivers. He also expressed worry at the level of complaints.
On the deputy treasurer, Booan asked what technological options had been explored to streamline the workflow in that three-person office. None, was the reply.

He'll Rise on Easter

2011-04-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal

Michael Davis, his mom Nancy, and Ellen Moore, right, of the United Methodist Church, shout “hallelujah!” in the middle of Elm Street at mid-morning Sunday, April 17, during an Ecumenical Palm Sunday service organized by Cooperstown’s churches.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-04-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

‘Save Tony’ Lawn SignsAre Stolen

COOPERSTOWN
Tony Pacherille awoke Sunday, April 17, to find five “Save Anthony” lawn signs had been stolen overnight from his Walnut Street neighborhood.
Driving around the village, he discovered “dozens” of the $4 signs had been taken overnight. Police were called.

GIBSON DUE: Newly elected Congressman Chris Gibson, R-20th, plans his first Otsego County town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Milford Town Hall in Portlandville.

NEW ROLE: Patrick M. Hooker, former state Ag & Markets commissioner from Richfield Springs, has joined the Empire State Development Corp. as senior manager, agribusiness development.

The Freeman’s Journal
For the first time in three years, $100,000 is back in the state budget to help farmers install rollover bars on tractors, state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, announced Monday, April 18, at a Town of Richfield farm.

Bassett Health Network Promotes 3

2011-04-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Bassett Healthcare Network has announced three promotions:

• Fox Hospital Patrick Mongillo, R.Ph., to network pharmacy director. In addition to three decades of pharmacy experience, he was COO at The Hospital in Sidney (now Tri-Town Regional Hospital) in 2003-05. He lives in Unadilla with his wife Lori and two children, Kelly and Mark.

• Connie Jastremski, R.N., to network chief nursing officer. She joined Bassett Hospital in 2003 as vice president of nursing and patient care services at Bassett Medical Center, after receiving numerous awards and accolades and lecturing nationally and internationally on neuroscience nursing, nursing administration and professional issues.

• Tim Williammee, to network laboratory director. He spent 22 of his 32 years experience at Bassett, as a bench technologist, microbiology supervisor and most recently as manager for core lab services at Bassett Hospital.

Green Shines At Cobleskill

2011-04-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

COBLESKILL
The SUNY Cobleskill Department of Sport & Exercise recently named junior Peter Green, Cooperstown, a member of the men’s baseball program, as the department’s Fighting Tiger Athlete-of-the-Week.
The junior utility man led the Orange & Black on the team’s season opening spring trip by hitting .462 going 6-for-13 in five appearances.

CHAMBER SCHOLAR

2011-04-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Sarah Dewey, a 2011 graduate of Cooperstown Central School, has been chosen for the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce’s first Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship was founded with a $500 gift from Rich McCaffery. The daughter of John and Jeanne Dewey, Cooperstown, Sarah will be attending SUNY Geneseo to study sociology and human relations.

IN SENATOR SEWARD’S SHADOW

2011-04-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, briefs students who were “shadowing” him at the state Capitol on Friday, April 15, through a program organized by the League of Women Voters. The students are, from left, Molly Pearlman of Cooperstown, Amanda Drake of Mount Markham, and Spencer Sherry of Laurens.

PREPARING FOR EASTER

2011-04-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal

Rev. Douglas Deer, pastor, First Baptist Church, delivers the homily when Cooperstown’s congregations gathered Sunday, April 17, on Main Street, for an ecumenical blessing of the palms. Other local clergy are, from left, Rev. Mark Michael, rector, Christ Episcopal Church; Rev. Elsie Rhodes, pastor, Cooperstown Congregational Church; Rev. John P. Rosson, pastor, St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Catholic Church, and Rev. Sundar Samuel, pastor, United Methodist Church. According to the New Testament, palms were strewn in front of Jesus when he entered Jerusalem in the days leading up to his death.

The service ended to the sound of brass from the horns of Katherine Resnick, Ted Peters and Brent Leonard.

CCS Announces More College Acceptances

2011-04-21T08:48:00.001-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

The Cooperstown Central School Guidance Office has announced the following recent college acceptances:

• Victoria Anania: College of William and Mary, University of Vermont, SUNY Geneseo
• Autumn Arthurs: Fairfield University, Quinnipiac University, Stonehill College, Susquehanna University
• Austin Bloomfield: Herkimer County Community College
• David Bonderoff: University of Tampa
• Samantha Borgstrom: American University
• Connor Boyle: SUNY Brockport
• Greg Brodersen: Hofstra University, Pace University, Slippery Rock University, Endicott College, Ithaca College
• Emily Brown: University of Delaware, McGill University
• Ann Cannon: Loyola University
• Shanette Couse: Onondaga Community College
• Sarah Dewey: Stonehill College, Saint Michael’s College, SUNY Geneseo, LeMoyne College, St. John Fisher College, SUNY Brockport, Canisius College
• Eleanor Dohner: Bennington College
• Edmund Donley: John Jay College
• Christen Dutkowsky: University of Notre Dame, Catholic University
• Kaitlin Eldred: Tompkins Cortland Community College
• Samantha Fancher: California University of Pennsylvania
• Nancy Fisher: Ithaca College, Gettysburg College, Drexel University
• John Gilbert: Binghamton University, American University, Clarkson University, University of Vermont
• Natalie Grigoli: Elmira College, St. Bonaventure University
• Katie Harrington: Keystone College, Cayuga Community College, Cazenovia College
• Laura Harmon: Union College, University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• Brian Heneghan: Clarkson University, SUNY Oswego, Buffalo State College
• Nathan Hitchcock: SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Morrisville
• Robert Katz: Stony Brook University, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
• Joseph Kevlin: La Salle University, Saint Joseph’s University, University of the Pacific, SUNY Oswego
• Christopher Knauth: SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Purchase
• Anna Kramer: Gettysburg College, Pomona College, Pitzer College, College of William and Mary
• Adrian Lynch: Herkimer County Community College
• Noble Mattson: SUNY Brockport
• Shyah Miller: University of Rochester, Ithaca College, University of Vermont, SUNY Brockport
• James Nering: University at Albany
• Raquel Perez: Purdue University, Transylvania University
• Tyler Preston: SUNY Alfred
• Samantha Race: Herkimer County Community College, SUNY Alfred, SUNY Cobleskill
• William Reis: Colgate University
• Emma Ryanmiller: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
• Emily Senif: University of New Hampshire, Mercyhurst College, Niagara University
• Jacqueline Vacchio-Gibb: Paul Smith’s College
• Laura Weber: Green Mountain College, SUNY Potsdam, Juniata College
• Christopher Wehner: Ithaca College, Hartwick College, SUNY Oneonta, Saint John Fisher College, University of Massachusetts Boston, The Culinary Institute of America
• Emily Yonce: Wells College, SUNY Fredonia, Roger Williams University

Secret Of Success? Attention To Detail

2011-04-15T09:37:00.001-07:00

Armao, Davis Disciplined, Driven To Serve

Honorees Tom Armao and Scott Davis are reflected in the hood of a 2012 Camaro.

By JIM KEVLIN

When Tom Armao was in high school, he spent one summer working for Ralph Johns, a farmer in his Schoharie County neighborhood, and Johns’ self-discipline impresses him still.
“He painted one side of the barn every year,” said Armao, in his bright office on Country Club Auto Group’s Kia-Nissan-Mitsubishi side of Oneida Street. “He always got everything done when it was meant to be done.”
In applying Ralph Johns’ code today, Armao embraces system and practices self-discipline: “Life is more predictable than random. It’s not beating the odds; it’s knowing the odds and playing the odds.”
Across the street in his wood-paneled office amid Country Club’s GM offerings, Scott Davis describes his years developing Oneonta’s Rent-A-Wreck franchise into the best of the 500 worldwide.
Because of the franchise’s name, in particular, Davis’ cars “had to be spotless. They had to look good. They had to smell good. They had to be mechanically sound,” he said.
As he got to know his repeat customers from SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College and other institutions, “I would put on the radio station I knew they would turn to.”
Discipline, customer focus, integrity – they both quote their mentor, Bill Davis: “We don’t lie, cheat or steal, and wouldn’t employ anyone who does – at least, not for long.”
With those qualities, is it any surprise the two partners, who bought the prime dealership from Bill Davis in 2009 and have continued to expand its reach, are being honored as the Otsego County Chamber’s NBT Distinguished Business of 2011 this Saturday, April 16, at SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union?
Business success over time and community service are the two criteria the chamber committee uses to pick its honorees, said chamber President & CEO Rob Robinson, and Country Club certainly has achieved both.
Much of this is Bill Davis’ legacy. “Serving your community is primary if you’re going to be successful in business,” said Robinson, and he said of the founding father, “If I could choose a grandfather for my kids, I would choose someone like Bill Davis, someone you can look up to and respect and learn from.”
But since Armao and Scott Davis bought the business in 2009, they combined two sites and two brands under the “Country Club” umbrella, reducing costs and focusing marketing. When the Big Three hit the bumps in the national economic road, the dealership was lean, consolidated, ready to weather the travails.
Robinson credited luck, but also vision and foresight. Armao and Scott Davis’ personalities, he continued, are also being forged into a strong partnership that bodes well for the future, he said.
“When push is needed, Tom is there,” said the chamber exec. “When restraint is called for, Scott is there.”
Tom Armao was born on a farm in the Town of Summit. He had three brothers and four sisters. (At a family reunion in Jersey Shore, Pa., two years ago, more than 60 close relatives were present.)
His first car? A ’55 Belair, “I rebuilt it myself.”
Graduating from Richmondville High School, he joined the Air Force, where he spent three years, seven months, three weeks and two days at basic in Texas, electrical school in Biloxi, Miss., and repairing long-range radar systems at the Blaine (Wash.) Air Force Station.
For the first time, the farmboy was exposed to
PARTNERS/From B7
people from all ethnicities, regions, ages, social classes. The lesson? “It made me realize that people react differently. We’re all different, and that’s OK.”
Back in Schoharie County in the early ‘70s, Tom briefly studied fish and wildlife management at SUNY Cobleskill, then joined brother David in Armao Construction, installing foundations and framing houses. In 1975, he joined his father Herb and brothers Dave and Steve in Cobleskill’s Amoco distributorship, wholesaling and retailing gasoline and maintaining the fleet.
“It mostly involved work – dirty work,” and in October 1978 Tom answered an ad, was interviewed by Bill Davis, his partner Paul Donowick and the Otsego Automotive GM, Gary McPherson, now of Certified Auto, and was hired as a salesman.
It was a tough time to break into auto sales. The country was coming out of the second oil embargo, interest rates were approaching 20 percent, but the economy was rebounding.
“I was the newbie in a staff of a lot of experienced people,” he remembered, so he listened and watched, and developed his own approach to sales. The dealership was selling Jeeps and Chevys at the time.
“It’s really a conversation,” Armao said. “You listen to people. Find out what they want. It’s not any marketing scheme. It’s just small-town America: Helping your neighbor.”
Just ask Mack and Kathy Culpepper, to whom he’s been selling cars since she was single and bought a Chevy Nova in 1978. Recently, he sold a car to one of their grandchildren.
“Sales sells the first car,” he said. “Service sells the rest of them.”
Armao had married in 1972, and he and wife Cynthia raised three children. Son Matthew, 38, is at Country Club; daughters are Rebecca, 36, and Sarah, 33. Armao had six grandchildren.
Within two years with Bill Davis, he was sales manager, directing eight sales people. When McPherson went on to other ventures in 1988, Armao became general sales manager.
“Some who has the motivation to win,” Tom said when asked the qualities he looks for in a salesman. “You can’t teach desire.” And, “you have to like people.”
As the son of an auto sales executive – his father, Bill, bought Otsego Automotive in 1960 – Scott Davis was pushing a broom and washing cars at the Oneonta dealership by the time he was 14.
Even by then, he knew his way around motors. His father would come home to find the son’s Honda CB160 motorcycle “in a million pieces on the floor” as Scott tried to figure out what made it tick.
From age 10, he’d push the motorcycle three miles from the family’s Sidney home “to where I could ride it on a trail. From there, I could go to Masonville.”
His first car was a greenish-blue Plymouth Savoy, “the poor man’s Fury,” with a push-button transmission on the dashboard. He bought it for $100, and immediately spent $50 adding an eight-track tape player.
His 1965 MGB soon threw a rod. (“I got the Savoy back.”) Then came a Chevy Corvair, which he loved despite Ralph Nader finding it “unsafe at any speed.” It was white with a black interior, and Scott soon had it painted bright red at Scavo’s Body Shop.
Trauma came in 10th grade when the Davis family – Scott, cross-country captain, was newly admitted to Sidney’s varsity club – was uprooted to Otego. He graduated in 1972 and went on to Keystone College in LaPlume, Pa.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” the accounting major remembered. “But I wanted to do something in business providing a service that the public can afford.”
He transferred to Syracuse, soon found himself at Utica College, then an SU subsidiary, and by the mid-’70s was enjoying life in Daytona Beach, Fla., managing an EconoCar rental franchise across from the speedway. The 1-9 p.m. shift was perfect for a 20-something.
During college, he had worked in Country Club’s parts department, bookkeeping and doing title work. By the end of the decade, he was back, selling Chevys.
As fleet sales manager, he experienced his first big coup, winning a contract that provided eight-passenger Chevy Suburban school buses to school districts “from Montauk, Long Island, to Buffalo.” (The vans were painted bright orange and adapted to their new use in the dealership’s service department.)
“We were in on the ground floor. We sold hundreds of them,” said Davis.
As that business became more and more competitive, Country Club decided to dip its toe in the car-rental business and obtained the Rent-A-Wreck franchise, which soon was spun off as a separate business with Bill Davis, Donowick and
PARTNERS/From A8
Scott Davis as equal partners.
He began with five cars – “one of them cost me $500” – and grew it to 55. Rent-A-Wreck – “Don’t let the name fool you. They are dependable cars. They just aren’t new,” Scott said – also grew, to 500 franchises worldwide.
So it was some satisfaction for Scott Davis when his little franchise on Oneida Street, Oneonta, was named Franchise of the Year in 1990, based on two factors. One, fleet-size growth: “We were more than double what the population would bear.” And customer comment cards: “Out of hundreds, they never got a bad one from us.”
During this period, he and wife Kathy, from Bainbridge, raised two girls, Heather, now 25, a Cornell grad and clinical dietitian at Lenoxville Hospital in Manhattan, and Erin, a Unatego junior, a dancer, and second-runnerup in this year’s Miss Otsego County Teen.
Life was good. Kathy was helping with the franchise, which also supported a couple of employees, allowing the family some free time. Then, in 1999, his father asked him to come back into the car business.
“I thought long and hard about it,” he said, finally concluding, “If I don’t try it, I’m always going to kick myself. I’ll try it for 10 years.”
And so the association began that led to the partnership being honored this weekend.
Tom Armao was general manager of the Country Club piece, then Jeep and Chevy. Scott took on Otsego Automotive, then Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC, Olds and Mitsubishi.
“We all got along, like one big family,” said Scott Davis of Otsego Automotive. “We took the dealership to new levels.”
At the time, selling 65 cars a month was “a big deal.” Sales reached 85, then 100, then the peak – 115. He remembers “walking on air” as he entered Ristorante Stella Luna for the victory celebration.
The secret: Promotion. In 2008, when the City of Oneonta rebuilt Oneida Street, Davis took his inventory to a tent in the Southside Mall’s parking lot, and ended up staying there for a record summer.
A key event of the decade came in 2005, Armao said, as manufacturers realigned. “For some time, Chevy had wanted us to get rid of Jeep,” he said. When the dust settled, Royal had taken over Jeep from Armao. Empire Toyota had absorbed Scion from Royal. And Empire had transferred Kia to Armao. (For a time, Kia was sold next to the used-car lot on Southside purchased from Bob Harlem in 2002.)
In 2009, Armao and Scott Davis formed their partnership, Country Club Automotive Group; that didn’t signal an end to change, but the beginning of a new round.
Immmediately, all the GM products were consolidated in the former Country Club Chevy lot across Oneida from SFCU. In April 2009, Kia and Mitsubishi were consolidated kitty corner in the former Otsego Automotive lot. In September 2009, Flagpole Nissan left the market, and the partners bought that franchise from the Maldonados.
At the same time, they hired Vibrant Creative, Chris Quereau’s ad agency, which developed a consistent look in the advertising under the “Country Club” brand, “to position us in the marketplace as the market leader,” Armao said.
One thing hasn’t changed, both partners said: dependable employees, seven of whom have been with the dealership more than 30 years, “unheard of today,” Armao said.
Despite all the change, both partners anticipate the best is yet to come.
“The technology today is incredible,” said Armao. “The new Optima is an incredible vehicle. The new Kruse gets 40 miles to the gallon. More than 50 percent of our service is on cars more than six years old. So cars last.”
“People who don’t change make the decision to go out of business,” said Scott Davis. “They just don’t know when.”

Reporter’s Listening Skills Ideal

2011-04-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

Top Financial Adviser Discovers Liking People Helpful; Listening To Them, Too

By JIM KEVLIN

By the late ‘80s, Erna Morgan McReynolds had been a top broadcast producer for more than a decade, in London and at NBC’s “Today” in New York City.
“It’s not a kind field to grow old in,” she said the other day in an interview at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney on outer Chestnut Street, where the Otsego County Chamber’s NBT Bank Distinguished Citizen of 2011 is managing director.
Casting around for a next step, she went to a party with her husband, Tom Morgan, whose “Money Talk” radio show was nationally syndicated, and met someone who suggested she should consider being a financial adviser.
Tom was already operating Oneonta’s E.F. Hutton office, so Erna took an aptitude test to discovered if she could “think in a certain way, because investments are what you call ‘intangible’.” She can, and soon she found herself interviewing in Hutton’s Boston office.
She was at the top of the broadcast game, and her bosses in New York were skeptical. They told her they’d hold her job for a year. Fine, but she never went back.
As a reporter, “my whole career had been asking people questions.” And, incidentally, she had “an abiding interest in people.” In her new business, she was surprised to find that skill and that predisposition were just right.
Getting her clients to talk, listening to them, knowing “what’s happening in the world and how you can help people reach their goals” – it was just the thing.
As you can anticipate, this girl from Gilbertsville who arrived back in Oneonta after several spins around the world, was a big success by any standard.
For four years now, Barron’s magazine has named her one of its Top 100 Women Financial Advisers. Research Magazine nominated her as Woman Financial Consultant of the Year. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney has taken her into its highest councils.
“We have clients now who have been retired for 20 years,” she said, “and we’re getting to know the children and the grandchildren.”
While her clients have benefitted, Erna McReynolds’ quarter-century back home have benefited her native Otsego County in much broader ways.
No sooner had she settled in then Barbara Wilder, wife of Hartwick College’s then-president, took her under her wing. “You’re going to be a big success,” Erna’s new mentor told her.
Soon, she was on the United Way board, and that led to appointments to the boards of the Otsego County Chamber, Orpheus Theater, the Indian Hills Girl Scout Advisory Council, the NYSHA development committee, Friends of Bassett and Hartwick College.
She was a founder of the Executive Service Corps’ local chapter. When the Catskill Symphony Orchestra ran into trouble, she and Tom were recruited to put it back on the firm financial footing it enjoys today.
The couple had bought a stone house on Clinton Street, just below Hartwick, but a decade ago they built a country home outside of Franklin, where they planted 100,000 daffodils.
Soon, when the bulbs bloomed, Erna and Tom were hosting an annual Daffodil Jazz Brunch, to benefit Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care. (This year’s is in memory of Cathy Hughes, a friend of Erna’s who died young of cancer.)
When interviewed the other day, she’d just returned from a conference in New York where John Paulson, the hedge-fund billionaire, had talked about the pace of change.
Where it took 35 years for 25 percent of Americans to get phones, it took only 13 for 25 percent to adopt mobile phones, only seven years for 25 percent to go on the Net.
“One of the things computers can’t do,” she continues, “is care about people. People have to sleep at night. If they don’t sleep at night, I don’t sleep at night.”
Her career as a financial adviser has been marked with change. By the time she joined Tom fulltime, E.F. Hutton had become Shearson, Lehman, Hutton, then Shearson, then Smith Barney Shearson, then Citi Smith Barney, before its current incarnation.
The Morgan office moved from Clinton Plaza, to 41 South Main, then to outer Chestnut.
“When I was hired, there were hardly any women in the business,” she recalled. She discovered – one of the reasons she likes her work – is that “it’s all about how well you build and manage your business.”

Howe Caverns Announces Its Transformation

2011-04-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

By LIBBY CUDMORE : HOWE’S CAVE

For being 201 years old, Lester Howe is looking pretty good.
Sitting in an armchair in his study at the entrance of Howe Caverns, Lester greets visitors to his famous cave with a cordial introduction and a brief animated film detailing how he stumbled across the opening where his cows stood in the summer to stay cool in the 52 degree breeze wafting up from underground.
Of course, Lester Howe has been dead for 123 years, but his legacy lives on in the form of an animatronic version of a man known as the “PT Barnum of Caves.” Designed by Garner Holt, which also does much of the animatronics work for Disney and other theme parks, the animatronic Lester has real human hair, eyebrow and smile functions.
He looks left and right to make eye contact with his audience. Not wanting to make Lester Howe more of a legend than a man, Garner Holt based Lester’s mannerisms on family histories, historical accounts, and the only two known photographs of the real Lester Howe.
The new Lester was introduced to the public Tuesday, April 12, at a reception in the attraction’s Tudor-like visitors center at 255 Discovery Drive.
While at the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions trade show in Las Vegas in 2009, Howe Caverns general manager Bob Holt saw an animatronic display and an idea struck. “We needed Lester Howe to tell his story,” he decided. Two years later, at the same trade show in Orlando, Lester Howe made his debut.
A face to face meeting with Howe Caverns’ discoverer isn’t the only thing Howe Caverns has in store for the nearly 200,000 visitors anticipated this summer.
With a July 4th opening date, Howe High Adventures, which features a ropes course and four ziplines, will, as John Lemery, president of Howe Caves Development, put it, “get kids outdoors and away from their iPods.”
There will also be a new banquet pavilion, featuring a full service kitchen and seating for up to 300 people, and an expansion of the gemstone mining shop, which will feature Patty Tobin’s exclusive Howe Collection of chunky gemstone jewelry.
“It’s always nice to meet folks who like to spend a beautiful day underground in a cave,” Lester says. And with all the new additions to Howe Caverns, the trip is a far cry from the ten-hour, lantern-lit excursions Lester Howe used to lead. Now those same folks, when they return to the daylight, can spend a little more time on all of Howe’s land.

Ian Austin/Freeman’s Journal & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Lester Howe again greets visitors.

Push On To ‘Save Anthony’

2011-04-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Pressure Intensifies At Trial Date Nears

The Freeman’s Journal
100 such signs have been distributed in the village.

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

With the trial of Anthony Pacherille, 17, in the Good Friday 2010 shooting just six weeks away, his family and friends are seeking to express the view that the boy is mentally ill to as many people as possible.
In recent days, “Save Anthony” lawn signs have appeared through the village. Anthony’s father, Tony, said he ordered 100 and they were snapped up so quickly he’s ordered another 200.
Village homes were also leafletted last weekend with fliers telling Anthony’s story in a sympathetic way. His father said friends of the family had taken on that project, but he didn’t know how many of the 900 village homes had received the material.
The lawn signs and leaflets direct people to www.pacherille.com, which tells the story to date from the
view of family and friends, contains photos from throughout Anthony’s boyhood, and includes a video of his last piano concert before the shooting.
Also, the teen’s mother, Kathy, has been collecting signatures countywide on a petition asking District Attorney John Muehl to recognize Anthony is suffering from mental illness, and to show “compassion and mercy.” The father said more than 600 people have signed the petition.
“The common thread is that these citizens in no way condone the events of April 2, 2010, but, nevertheless, are equally bothered by the unnecessary and destructive harshness of the proposed prison sentence,” the petition reads.
Asked if this final push was an effort to spread the word as far and wide as possible locally, so the trial will be moved out of Otsego County, Tony Pacherille, a lawyer himself, said he thinks the district attorney will probably interpret it that way.
Rather, he said, “we are just exercising our First Amendment right to try and educate the public.” It is very difficult, he added, to obtain a change of venue in New York State.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-04-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

Ian Austin/ The Freeman’s Journal
Cooperstown’s Tier French, an OCCA board member, created a gown made up of a year’s worth of plastic bags for the “Go Green!” Fashion Show at the Earth Festival Saturday, April 9, at MCS. (Other photo)

GET BALLOTS: Absentee ballots for Cooperstown Central School District residents for the May 17, 2011 budget vote, proposition and school board election are available at the superintendent’s office or by calling 547-5364.

MAKE A CRANE: To create an origami crane and free $2 apiece for earthquake victims in Japan, stop by the Cooperstown Art Association, call 547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com. The CCS PTO is co-sponsoring the effort.

SCHOOL TO GO: St. Mary’s School in Oneonta, the last parochial school between Binghamton and the Capitol Region, will close at the end of the school year, it was announced.

CLEANING UP: The Cooperstown Lions, who adopted Route 28 from Maple Street in Cooperstown to the transfer station, has extended its efforts this spring one mile to the blinking light at Day and Johnston roads.

GLIMMERGLASS U CONVENES

2011-04-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Glimmerglass University, featuring professors from Columbia, Colgate and Union, convened for the third year Saturday, March 26, with topics ranging from the Arab World today to the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court. Organized by Dr. Frank Harte, the “tuition” benefits the Cooperstown Food Bank. From left are Harte, Rita Charon, another organizer; Audrey Murray, Food Bank director; professors Bradley Hays, Union, and Noor Khan, and Jeffery Murray, another organizer.

Final Piece Of Springbrook Puzzle Put In Place

2011-04-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

The $2.5 million had been raised, and a cheer went up at Springbrook’s annual gala Saturday, April 9, in The Otesaga’s packed ballroom, when the news was announced.
“We’re going to be finished early,” added Patricia Kennedy, Springbrook executive director, “and way under budget.”
More cheers.
The locally raised $2.5 million freed up Paychex owner Tom Golisano’s $2.5 million matching grant, which was added to a state “bare-bones” allocation to allow Springbrook’s expansion to serve 24 more children with developmental disabilities to move forward.
Construction had begun in July 2010, and anyone driving through Milford Center on Route 28 can look up on the hillside to the west and see the progress that’s been made.
When completed in April 2012, the project will add 112 new permanent jobs to the Otsego County workforce.
This year’s turnout to the sixth annual gala, “Together Hand In Hand,” drew the largest crowd to date.
The theme “represents the partnerships Springbrook has shared with its donors, families, students and staff during the year. Together we will make Springbrook the greatest school for children with autism in the country,” Kennedy said in a pre-gala release.
This year’s lead sponsors were Citizens Bank and LeChase Construction Services. Other sponsors include Relph Benefit Advisors, ZMK Construction, Louis N. Picciano and Son, Inc., Bryans & Gramuglia, Christa Construction, Maggs & Associates, Tom & Patricia O’Brien, Wells Fargo Advisors, Schuler-Haas Electric Company and RTech.

The Freeman’s Journal
Springbrook students put the final piece of the “Coming Home To Springbrook” puzzle in place during the school’s sixth annual gala Saturday, April 10, at The Otesaga. It signified all of the $2.5 million needed to be raised locally has been collected. In the background is attendee Jeff Haggerty, Cooperstown.

NEW USE FOR NEWSPAPERS

2011-04-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Milford High School students Gabby Sickler, left, who is in a dress made completely out of carpet padding, stands with Madi Martin, designer of both these dresses, who is wearing a dress constructed completely out of newspapers. The two participated in the “Go Green!” Fashion Show, an addition to this year’s OCCA Earth Festival, held Saturday, April 9.

Historically, Otsego Chamber Honorees Are Leaders Who Bring All Together

2011-04-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

In the past few months, a divergence on whether to oppose the questionable horizontal hydrofracking method of extracting natural gas from beneath Otsego County split our two chambers.
The Cooperstown Chamber, representing tourism interests and two breweries, has taken a lead in objecting to the heavy traffic, scenic degradation and watershed contamination that might result from such natural-gas drilling. The county chamber, more heavily represented in Oneonta, which depends more on manufacturing and higher education, has held back.
The issue starkly suggests that perhaps there is an insufficient consensus within the county business community to be served by a single chamber, despite the benefits that might be gained by sharing back-office functions, promotion and the like.
Then, once again, along comes the Otsego County Chamber’s Annual Dinner & Celebration of Business, and we find ourselves united again in appreciation of outstanding honorees.
Distinguished Citizen honoree Erna Morgan McReynolds, and Tom Armao and Scott Davis, proprietors of this year’s Distinguished Business, Country Club Automotive Group, continue to demonstrate the combination of long-term business success and community service that characterizes so many of those on the list to the right of this editorial.
Referring to Bill Davis, who sold Country Club to the two partners in 2009, Armao said, “Bill impressed on all of us the importance of the community to those of us in business. We take care of them, and they take care of us.”

•

McReynolds and the Country Club group have been involved in community organizations as varied at the hospitals, the colleges, the Girl Scouts, the Little League and the Catskill Symphony Orchestra.
But perhaps the greatest service they perform for the community is doing their jobs and running their businesses exceptionally.
Erna McReynolds, a former eminent broadcast journalist and producer, found that listening skills, curiosity and general affection for people served her well as she rose to managing director, wealth management at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s local office.
Armao learned that doing the right thing systematically pays dividends. And Scott Davis, while running Rent-A-Wreck, making sure car radios were set on the frequency he knew repeat customers listened to – that’s just amazing attention to detail.

•

But, looking at that list, there are many exceptional business people among us with as good and better stories to tell.
Gordon Roberts, who passed away just a few months ago. Jane Forbes Clark and Ed Stack, her right-hand person for years. Judge Harlem, whose intervention saved Goodyear Lake when NYSEG wanted to breach the dam. Bill Streck, architect of Bassett’s miraculous reach. Dave Brenner, politician and university leader par excellence.
Impressive indeed.

Otsego County Chamber Bettiol Distinguished Citizens NBT Bank Distinguished Businesses

2011-04-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

2010
erna morgan mcreynolds
Morgan Stanley VP
COUNTRY CLUB AUTOMOTIVE

2009
Sam Nader
Former Oneonta Mayor
NORTHERN EAGLE BEVERAGE

2008
Judge Richard Harlem Sr.
The Otesaga

2007
Dr. David Brenner
Former Oneonta Mayor
Catskill Area Hospice
& Palliative Care

2006
Dr. William Streck
Bassett President/CEO
Oneonta Block/
Otsego Ready Mix

2005
Carl Delberta, Sr.
Founder, Oneonta
Boys & Girls Club
Mang Insurance

2004
Jane Forbes Clark
BK Assocs./Neptune Diner

2003
Geoffrey A. Smith
Medical Coach President
The Daily Star

2002
None, But Award Renamed
For Eugene Bettiol, Jr.
Bassett Healthcare

2001
Marian Mullett
Pathfinder Village Founder
Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q

2000
Edward W. Stack
Clark Foundation VP
SUNY Oneonta

1999
William Davis
Otsego Automotive Founder
Fox Hospital

1998
VanNess D. Robinson
CEO, New York Central Mutual
Oneonta Athletic Corp.

1997
Hiram Skinner
Skinner & Damulis Founder
Hartwick College

1996
D.K. Lifgren
Founder, Astrocom
New York Central Mutual

1995
Robert W. Moyer
Wilber Bank President

1994
Walter G. Rich
Delaware Otsego Founder

1993
Gordon B. Roberts
Gordon B. Roberts
Agency Founder

1992
Dr. Phillip Wilder
Hartwick College President
Medical Coach

1991
Sidney Levine
Oneonta Tigers Partner
Wilber National Bank

1990
Wilmer & Phillip Bresee
Bresee’s Partners
The Clark Foundation

1989
Leroy “Sonny” House
Oneonta Businessman

1988
Joan Lutz
Oneonta Chamber Executive

Details Available On This Summer’s Headwaters Soccer Camps

2011-04-15T08:11:00.001-07:00

The 2011 Headwaters Soccer Club Summer Camp brochure is now available at headwaterssoccer.com or by calling the New York Power Authority at 1-800-724-0309.
Seven camps will be held for boys and girls ages 7-17 with the continued addition of TEAM CAMPS. The fee $60 per week, with each participant receiving a tee shirt and water bottle.
The camps will run 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday in Otego, Schenevus, Edmeston and at SUNY Oneonta, between June 27 and Aug. 12.

Lady of FINLAND & They Do Adore Photographer At Tampere’s Vapriikki Museum

2011-04-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN

You may know the story of Lady Ostapeck’s narrow escape while still in the cradle.
It was 1919. The baby’s mother had died in childbirth in Brooklyn, N.Y., and she had been sent to live with an aunt in a Finnish community in rural Brooklyn, Conn.
One day, a farmer name Koski emerged from his house with a hatchet in his hand, turned left and butchered everyone in the next five houses, hanging himself in the barn at the end.
If he had turned right, Baby Ostapeck would been one of his first victims.
The baby was returned to Brooklyn, where she was taken in by Mama Jansson, who lived in Edgewater, N.J.
Mama’s three young children and her husband had died, Lady related in an interview the other day, wearing a black sombrero and sipping coffee from a paper cup.
“I got all the love she would have given her babies – all of it,” she said matter-of-factly.
Mama Jansson’s love and sincerity was such that girls contemplating suicide would cross the Hudson River for her counseling. Not a one went through with it, Lady said.
As it happens, she had just returned from Finland, where more
LADY/From B1
than 400 people crowded into the Vapriikki Museum in Tampere, the country’s third-largest city, for the opening of “A Lady of Style: Lady Ostapeck’s American Costumes & Portraits.”
In her speech opening night, on the podium with the Finnish minister of culture and tourism, Lady Ostapeck gave credit to Mama Jansson for everything that has happened to her in the 90+ years since.
Did you know Lady Ostapeck was originally a seamstress, trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology?
By the time she arrived at her Greek revival cottage in Fly Creek a half century ago – she lived there until moving to Oneonta’s Nader Towers two years ago – and began her career as a portraitist with an unusual muse, she had already collected dozens of vintage costumes.
She continued to do so, at thrift shops and auctions, and as she produced hundreds of photo portraits of subjects in vintage clothing, her costume collection – it includes two pith helmets – grew into the hundreds of examples as well.
Periodically, Lady has been invited to display her photos in Finland, and 10 years ago she met Marketa Frank, now a curator at the Vapriikki, who was interested in antique clothing.
One thing led to another, and last summer a team from the museum visited the Fly Creek Valley cottage, where it identified more than 100 gowns and other articles from Lady’s collection.
When packed, Lady said, the clothes filled 19 of those movers’ wardrobes. “Next year,” said Lady, “they’ll be getting another set.”
Lady’s promoter and friend Nick Argyros, director of the Photo Center of the Capital District in Troy, had collaborated with Marketa Frank in organizing the exhibit and intended to accompany the photographer.
But, just before they were to depart in mid-March, he suffered a heart attack and underwent a triple bypass. Lady’s Fly Creek neighbor, Barbara Lyon, was recruited for the task and the two departed from JFK Sunday, March 13, aboard a Finnair flight, courtesy of the Vapriikki.
“Non-stop to Helsinki,” said Barbara. “We flew
LADY/From B2
over the Arctic Circle, looking down on glaciers and ice-blue rivers. It was incredible. It reminded me of ‘Dr. Zhivago’.”
Met at the airport, the two were driven the two hours to Tampere – a metropolitan area of 300,000 known as “The Manchester of Finland” – and immediately went to the museum.
It was “a wonderful factory building on the river,” the Tammerkoski channel that connects the city’s two lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi.
The exhibit included most of the clothing, examples of Lady’s photos, blown up to 16- by 20-inch sizes, and detailed texts of her life and work.
“We spent every day at the museum,” said Lyon. “She had interviews every day. There were ones that weren’t planned, and those that were planned.”
One morning at breakfast, the waitress approached with a copy of Aamulehti, the daily paper. “This is you, isn’t it?” she asked, holding up the front page of the feature section, dedicated completely to Lady’s exhibit.
Then came the big night. The museum’s reception area was filled. Champagne all around. Finland’s minister of culture and tourism was there. Also a cousin of Lady’s who was a member of the Finnish parliament, and a nephew who was Finnair’s director of marketing.
Lady had had a rough winter. She had been hospitalized twice over Christmas, then had spent time in rehabilitation at Otsego Manor.
“All I want is to go to Finland, and then I can die,” she told Barbara.
“After the reception,” her friend recalled, “she said, ‘This is the highpoint of my whole life. I can die now’.”
If you die in Finland, would you want to be buried here? asked Barbara. In addition to wanting to know Lady’s wishes, she was pondering the logistics of transporting her back to the States.
“No, no,” she said in that abruptly frank way those who know her would recognize. “I have a plot in Fly Creek. You have to bring me back.”

to see pictures, visit our facebook album -- Lady of Finland, Lady Ostapeck, 2011

Eric Coleman Joins Hawkeyes As Head Coach

2011-04-07T09:49:00.001-07:00

COOPERSTOWN

Eric Coleman, 36, head coach for collegiate and independent teams for 14 years, will join the Cooperstown Hawkeyes this summer as head coach.
For the past three seasons, Coleman has been field manager and director of player development for the Oakland County Cruisers of the Frontier League in Michigan. He managed in the Coastal Plains, Texas Collegiate, Northwoods and New England Summer Collegiate Leagues.
Eric was pitching coach at Niagara University and San Diego Mesa Junior College. He coached 10 junior college All-Americans and 86 players that went on to sign professional contracts with MLB teams.
The Hawkeyes enter their second season at 5 p.m. Friday, June 9, at Doubleday Field. Individual game and season tickets are on sale; call 376-6220 or visit www.cooperstownhawkeyes.net.

FLY CREEK PHIL PACKS THEM IN

2011-04-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

Paul Donnelly/The Freeman’s Journal

Angus Mackie, on the guitar, accompanies Dr. Jim Dalton, left, during the Fly Creek Philharmonic’s annual review – “Let’s Get Physical” was this year’s theme – Saturday, April 2, at the Fly Creek United Methodist Church. This year’s performance was dedicated to Dennis Murray of Murphy Hill Road, “our longtime friend and fellow musician,” who passed away over the winter.

Doubleday Made History 150 Years Ago

2011-04-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

It’s Not For What You Think: He Fired Shot At Sumter That Opened Civil War

Abner Doubleday

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

Asked if Cooperstown’s fate is linked to that of Abner Doubleday, Village Historian Hugh MacDougall says, “entirely.”
But it’s not how you may think.
If not for the prestige of THE Abner Doubleday, the Civil War general, the Mills Commission probably would not have decided the National Pastime was invented in a pasture where Doubleday Field is today.
But we’re getting ahead of the story, which began 150 years ago next Tuesday, April 12, when Doubleday gained immortality for firing the first Union shot of the Civil War, from Fort Sumter toward the emplacements that bristled around Charleston Harbor.
According to MacDougall, Doubleday had been stationed at Fort Moultrie, up the coast, but it was abandoned and its troops moved to Sumter after South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860.
At 4:30 a.m. on that April 12, rebel artillery opened fire on Sumter. The Union troops took cover in the basement of the unfinished fort, but at 9:30 a.m., the commander, Maj. Robert Anderson, directed his second-in-command, Captain Doubleday, to return fire.
Later that day, realizing their position was hopeless, the Union troops surrendered, and Doubleday went on to fight in numerous Civil War engagements, rising to the rank of brevet major general.
Fast-forward to 1905 and the Mills Commission, appointed by Albert Spalding, the former pitcher and sports-goods entrepreneur to prove baseball’s American roots.
Out of nowhere, a letter arrived from an Abner Graves in Denver, who claimed that Abner Doubleday, in 1839, had laid out the basic rules for what became baseball.
Spalding was thrilled. And General Doubleday’s burnished reputation made the story irresistible. If there had been no Doubleday, Spalding would have had to invent him.

EDITORIAL: However We Got Here, New Bank’s Success Will Benefit All

2011-04-07T09:37:00.001-07:00

Since it seems everyone involved is under a gag order from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, it’s a little hard to figure out what happened at Wilber National Bank over the past year.
First, the president & CEO abruptly resigned last Aug. 6 at a board meeting. Then, within weeks, it was announced that Community Bank System, based in the Syracuse suburb of Dewitt, would be acquiring Wilber.
Friday afternoon, April 8, papers were to be signed finalizing the $102 million acquisition that will bring an end to a venerable Otsego County institution, founded in 1874 in Milford and now expanded into seven counties.
Being a small county consisting of small communities and one small city, few secrets remain secrets and scenarios do abound, and this is a condensation of the most commonly repeated ones.
After the economy dipped in 2008, longtime customers began approaching the bank: They could no longer meet their full obligations. Fine, some were told: Pay the interest and catch up when the economy rebounds.
When an inspector from the Office of the Comptroller showed up and became aware of the practice, he ordered it ended. Receiving resistance, he ordered a managerial shakeup and told the Wilber board to prepare to be absorbed.

•

The Office of the Comptroller then acted as matchmaker with Community Bank System, which has $5.5 billion in assets compared to Wilber’s $870 million.
Another contributing factor, one scenario has it, is that Wilber lacked the administrative firepower to keep up with the chunks of new rules arriving monthly from bank regulators in the wake of the banking crisis. Banks simply have to get bigger to comply.
(Ironically, the crisis was a big-bank one; community banks like Wilber generally avoided the smash-up.)
A spokesman for the Comptroller declined to discuss what may or may not have happened, so it’s hard to know with any certainty. Sure, the regulators are there to ensure consistency, that all customers are treated the same. Still – if this scenario holds – it seems like a harsh outcome.

•

When the news of the Wilber sale first surfaced, Rob Robinson, president of the Otsego County Chamber, praised the bank’s central role in community development in recent years and expressed fears it would be diminished.
The Wilber chief executive, after all, was president of the county Industrial Development Authority when all this began, and Wilber had been front and center for decades on virtually every major community undertaking.
The late Al Farone, the Oneonta attorney, was the major Wilber stockholder by the end of his life, and his bequests – to the city’s St. Mary’s Catholic parish and school in particular – continue to benefit local entities.
And that’s the shame of it. Congressman Tim Holden, from Saint Clair, Pa., used to say, “I’m the only person in Congress who wakes up every morning and says, What can I do for Schuylkill County today?”
And so it is. Undoubtedly, no executive in Dewitt will be waking up every morning saying, “What can I do for Colliersville” – or Cooperstown, or Decatur, or Hartwick – “today?”
Happily, senior management remains in place in bank headquarters at 245 Main, Oneonta. When the Cooperstown branch reopens Monday, April 11, as Community Banks, branch manager Janice Eichler will still be greeting customers with a smile, as she always has, as will managers through the Wilber system.
Some of Community Banks’ fees are lower than Wilber’s, according to Joe Sutaris, Wilber interim CEO who will be the new bank’s chief executive in the region, so that will benefit local customers. Plus, Community’s e-banking options are more sophisticated than Wilber’s.
And there are other competitors – Norwich-based NBT, for instance, and the Bank of Cooperstown – that are seeking to position themselves as truly local options.
So the pudding remains to be et, as Jed Clampett might say.
The acquisition led to 63 back-office layoffs, since those duties accounting, human services, etc. – can now be performed in Dewitt. But if the hold-over managers can gain the full confidence of their new bosses and can show results – better, sterling results – the bank will be positioned not only to serve its stockholders but to resume its traditional role as one of our foremost business citizens.
Who knows? Perhaps even THE foremost one it has been.

Olive Branches Offered As New Trustees Arrive

2011-04-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

New Trustee (and deputy mayor) Walter Franck is flanked by family members. At left are son Patrick Franck and his children, Tommy and Katie. At right are Dr. Franck’s wife Linda, his son’s mother-in-law Andree Weidemann, and Patrick’s wife Carina Weidemann Franck

It was a variation on the old saw, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em – or perhaps have them join you.
At the Village Board’s organizational meeting Monday, April 4, Mayor Joe Booan surprised some by naming Dr. Walter Franck, newly elected trustee, as deputy mayor. He replaced Trustee Willis Monie Jr., Booan’s last fellow Republican.
Booan also created an Economic Conservation Committee and appointed Jim Dean, a new trustee who ran on an anti-fracking platform, as chairman.
Booan provided Dean with a list of suggestions on issues to look at, but he urged the new chairman to “make the committee your own,” selecting members and charting an action agenda.
These appeared to be conciliatory steps – Democratic-endorsed Franck and Dean, as well as Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch and the reelected Jeff Katz, had defeated Booan’s Republican team in the March 15 village election.
Booan had already offered an olive branch in the form of a village trustee appointment for Gary Kuch, the Worcester superintendent and former high school principal here, and Ellen Tillapaugh’s husband.
At the Monday, March 31, regular meeting that followed the election, the mayor had nominated Gary Kuch for justice – a position he had run for unsuccessfully earlier in the decade – to allow him to enroll in certification classes that began April 2. He replaced Enid Hinkes.
Those conciliatory steps contrasted with a counter-budget to Booan’s budget that Katz offered at the second budget session since the election, held Wednesday, March 30, in 22 Main.
Earlier, Booan had proposed reducing six FTEs from the village workforce, including Public Works Superintendent Brian Clancy, and reducing Police Chief Diana Nicols to two days a week. That would have freed up $140,000 for street work.
Katz proposed adding those six Full-Time Equivalents back into the budget, and reducing the amount for street repair – a Booan priority – to $70,000.
A village budget must be approved by the end of May.
At noon on the 4th, Katz and the new trustees were sworn in amidst much good will from a mostly Democratic crowd that filled the trustees’ meeting room.
That evening at 6, the organizational went forward politely, with Booan also naming Franck to chair the Economic Sustainability Committee, adjusting former trustee Neil Weiller’s Sustainability Committee to examine the village’s fiscal health as well.

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
NEW VILLAGE BOARD ABOARD: The new Cooperstown village trustees were sworn in at noon Monday, April 4. In left photo is Jeff Katz with wife Karen and son Joey, (representing sons Robbie and Nate). In center, Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch and husband Gary, (who was sworn in as village justice). At right, Jim Dean, wife Eileen and daughters Janice, left, an assistant attorney general, and Colleen Canyon, an acupuncturist in Manhattan. The Franck clan is below.

This Weekend, Wilber Becomes Community

2011-04-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

ONEONTA

This weekend, hundreds of “Wilber National Bank” signs will come down in seven counties around Oneonta, replaced by hundreds of “Community Bank N.A.” signs.
“Five hundred to 1,000,” estimated Joseph E. Sutaris, the 15-year Wilber veteran who will be Community Bank’s chief regional executive, overseeing the new unit of the larger bank.
At 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, an hour ahead of usual, all Wilber’s offices will close down. The final agreement of merger, approved by stockholders in March, will be signed, consummating the $102 million deal.
Over the weekend, “all the data on our system has to flow to the new system,” said Sutaris. “When it moves over, you have to validate the accuracy.”
The bank announced ATMs will not be available over the weekend, but the executive said the hope is that they will be accessible to customers much more quickly.
When the doors open Monday morning, April 11, Wilber’s 32,000 customers will be Community Bank customers, and they may soon discover they’re in a better place.
As it happens, the Community Bank structure will allow decisions on larger loans to be made at the local level, Sutaris said. Plus some of Community’s fees are lower than Wilber’s and some of the rates higher, another benefit to customers here.
Sutaris, a New Jersey native with a Rutgers MBA who joined the bank in 1995, will be joined by other Wilber veterans in the new organization.
Jeff Lord, a Wilber senior vice president, will head commercial lending. Bob Harter will continue to head human resources; Tammy Neumann, branch administration; Brett Fisk, facilities, and Mark Ackerly, information technology and security. Charles Perrillo and Priscilla Welch will be vice presidents in the trust department.
Of the recent layoffs of 63 back-office employees – their functions will be absorbed at Community Bank headquarters in Dewitt – Sutaris said the remaining 250 staffers have “heavy hearts.”
But, he said, as Community Bank flourishes, jobs will be added, and the former employees have priority in rejoining the effort.

The Freeman’s Journal
Joseph Sutaris, foreground, becomes Community Bank’s chief regional executive, and Jeff Lord, to his left, will lead the local trust division. Other key executives are, from left, MaryAnn Gorsch, Sue Tietjen, Dorothy Quarltere, Chris Wiltsie, Charles Perrillo and John Connelly.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-04-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

EARTH FESTIVAL: A “Recycled Fashion” show will be a highlight of Earth Festival 2011, planned 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Milford Central School.

BIKES WELCOME: Price Chopper has installed an inverted “U” five-bicycle rack at its Cooperstown store.

TICKETS READY: Tickets for the Hall of Fame Classic Weekend game, featuring retired Major Leaguers, go on sale at 6 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, at 25 Main St., $12.50 for first- and third-base seats and $10 for outfield. The game is at 2 p.m. Father’s Day, June 19.

FOLK TALES: Henry Glassie, a CGP grad and one of the nation’s foremost folklorists, will deliver the 2011 Bruce Buckley Lecture at 7:30 .m. Thursday, April 14, at The Fenimore. His topic, “Learning from the Vernacular: History From Architecture.” Public welcome.

The Freeman’s Journal
Two mayors – former Cooperstown mayor Wendell Tripp, left, and Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller – discuss the burdens of municipal leadership at the Gordon Lightfoot concert Thursday, March 31, which filled the new regional Foothills Performing Arts Center’s main theater for the first time. (More photos, A7)

Single-Handedly, It Revives Dairying Here : Chobani About To Be Biggest Yogurt Maker

2011-03-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hamdi Ulukaya’s Business One Of Fastest-Growing Ever

By JIM KEVLIN : SOUTH EDMESTON

Hamdi Ulukaya’s Chobani-making workforce has grown from six to 600 in five years. Behind him is a $100 million expansion now rising in South Edmeston.

Hamdi Ulukaya is holding his breath.
Information Resources Inc.’s last report put Ulukaya’s Greek-style Chobani yogurt brand just 0.01 percent behind top-selling Dannon.
Any day now, he’s expecting the word:
A mere six years after buying a shuttered cheese plant on Unadilla Creek at South Edmeston...
Six years, where his work force grew from six to 600...
Six years, where his demand for raw materials grew from zero to 3 million pounds of milk a day ... yes, 3 million ...
Six years, from when the first half-pallet, 1,000 individual cartons of yogurt, went out the door, to an anticipated 1 million cases this year.
No, he hadn’t received word by the time this newspaper went to press Tuesday, March 29, but any minute now he’s expecting he will: Chobani is the largest-selling yogurt in the United States of America.
“This is one of the fastest-growing companies ever,” said Ulukaya matter-of-factly, sitting in his second-floor glassed-blocked office in Kraft’s former Phoenix plant.
Driving the four miles from Edmeston, you crest the hill and there it is in the valley – the original 700,000-square-foot plant with a $100 million expansion nearing completion – a bigger building than most anything around here.
You go through South Edmeston and cross Unadilla Creek, and everywhere there’s busy-ness. Construction crews finishing the new structure. Hundreds of parked cars and trucks surrounding the buildings.
Workers in hairnets come and go from the factory line. In the cafeteria, every seat is filled at every table, and people are lining the wall. A foreman briefs them on their next shift.
Mustafa Dogan, Chobani’s master yogurt-maker and quality overseer – he drives back and forth daily between here and parent company Agro Farma’s feta plant in Johnstown – tromps up the stairs: “Where’s Hamdi?”
That’s a question everyone’s been asking over the past half hour, and then he steps lightly up the stairs, a slight man, curly-haired, bright-eyed, upper 30s, if anything a little low-key for someone who’s been riding a tornado.
“You have 600 happy people – I hope they are,” he said by way of explanation. “But 600 TIRED people.”
How did this happen? And he tells the story.
Hamdi Ulukaya was raised in Ilic in the Province of Erzincan in eastern Turkey, “very much like here. Families are close. Everyone knows everyone.”
For generations, centuries, his family operated Safak, a regional dairy. There were 20,000 sheep in the company’s herd when he was growing up.
He had six brothers. He rode horses, played a lot of soccer and got pretty good at it. Graduating from high school, he got an offer to go pro and raised the question with his mother, Emine.
She didn’t say no. Instead, she asked a question: “Is that what you’re going to do all your life – chase balls?”
So he went to university, studying political science, then decided to learn English in the U.S. He started out in New York City, but soon moved Upstate, from Adelphi to Bard to SUNY Albany, drawn by the proximity to a country life similar to his boyhood one.
In the mid ‘90s, his father, Mehmet, paid a fateful visit. “He was blown away,” said the son, “especially with the countryside. So beautiful. So like where we grew up.”
He loved the States, loved the hospitality of the people he met, but observed, “the cheese could be better.”
His son hadn’t decided on a vocation yet, so he took his father’s advice and began importing Greek cheeses into New York City. He kept his eye open for opportunity, developed a business plan for Agro Farma, and was enticed by the Montgomery County IDA to build the Johnstown feta plant. (“My business school,” Ulukaya calls it.)
In 2005, a flyer – “junk mail” – came across his desk, advertising the availability of the Phoenix plant, where 55 workers had just been laid off. Hamdi visited: “It was old, no value to anyone. I just had a gut feeling I could make it work. As an entrepreneur, you always have to listen to that inner voice.”
He found a place to live in Cooperstown – on Pioneer Street, between Chuck and Ursula Hage’s and John Ramsay’s – which was convenient to both plants, and found himself one morning in South Edmeston with his first six employees.
“What are we going to do now?” they asked.
“Well, we’re going to start painting the walls,” said the new boss, and they did. (The six original employees are still with him.)
At first, the plant turned out private-label products for others. But in August 2007, the first half-pallet of Chobani yogurt went down to New York City. A week later, all the customers reordered. Then they increased their orders.
In 2008, the plant was shipping 20,000-30,000 cases a week. In 2009, it was up to 100,000. In 2010, 300,000-400,00 cases a week. This year began at 500,000 cases a week, which Ulukaya expects to rise to the million mark by year’s end.
“I think people were ready for something better and something healthier – not just yogurt, all food,” he mused, and Chobani – strawberry, blueberry, peach, vanilla and plain at first – was just that: simple, healthy.
The thicker, creamier Greek yogurt was available in specialty stores in cities. For the first time, though, Chobani made it accessible to the mass market.
From the outset, Hamdi was accessible to the customers, too. He answered the phone when they called. When the volume got too great, others answered the phone, but forwarded ones they thought the boss needed to hear.
Soon, the phone crew was consistently hearing, “I never liked yogurt, but this made my day.” And, “I love Chobani and I’m going to tell all my friends and families about this.”
A new marketing tool was emerging: The Internet. “It went viral,” Hamdi said.
Ulukaya has since moved to Norwich, where the company is headquartered. He’s negotiating for P&G’s former Eaton Pharmaceuticals plant there. He’s expecting to announce construction of a second plant soon, although probably not in Upstate New York: There’s simply not enough milk.
“We’ve become the biggest milk processing plant east of the Mississippi,” he explained. And the product is available in all 50 states.
As you might suspect, Hamdi Ulukaya’s company couldn’t have grown this fast if he were a micro-manager: “Let people be free,” he said. “Don’t put borders around people’s jobs.”
And people have responded. A woman who answered phones at the Kraft plant for years is now head of purchasing. Another does all the day-to-day scheduling. A temp is now a shift manager.
“I’m a perfectionist,” the boss said. “But I see people before I see anything else. Be an example,” he advised, “before you put rules and regulations in place.”
The defining factor of his life for the past decade has been work, but he recently bought a country home and some land – “I always wanted to have my own farm” – and hopes to raise horses.
He’s taking up sailing, and gets away to Newport, R.I., whenever he can. He’s still a bachelor, but a niece, Dilek, has joined him, and heads the company’s Shepherd’s Gift Foundation.
“This kind of story can never happen anywhere else,” he said near the end of an hour-long interview. “It’s still an entrepreneurial haven,” he said of the U.S. “They welcome the new ones.”
He weds that New World attitude with Old World perspective: “Alexander said, give me 10 people and I’ll conquer the world.” Hamdi Ulukaya did it with six.

Daniel J Fahs, Harpursville, tends the machine that fills the containers with yogurt.

D’Ambrosio Succeeds Elliott As NYSHA President

2011-03-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

D. Stephen Elliott, a calm, diplomatic presence on the helm of the New York State Historical Association for almost six years, will join the Minnesota Historical Society as director & CEO, effective Friday, April 1.
His replacement locally is Vice President & Chief Curator Paul D’Ambrosio, a member of NYSHA’s curatorial staff for 26 years, who during Elliott’s tenure has organized block-buster centerpiece exhibits.
NYSHA president & CEO, the position in question, is also president of The Farmer’s Museum.
With a combination of content and marketing, Steve Elliott’s last season as NYSHA president saw a 20 percent increase in revenues at the turnstile, despite the economic downturn.
Part of that increase was no doubt D’Ambrosio’s doing as well: His “John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Praise of Women,” was a critical success and a crowd-pleaser as well.
The MHS announced Elliott’s hiring at mid-morning Monday, March 28, about the time an all-staff meeting to announce the transition was breaking up in The Fenimore Art Museum’s auditorium.
Locally, D’Ambrosio said, “Steve is leaving things in tip-top shape, and for that I’m very grateful.” Because of his long tenure and with “a good season in place,” he is hoping for “a very smooth transition.”
Elliott was in St. Paul, Minn., that day, and could not immediately be reached for comment. However, NYSHA’s official announcement had him praising his “very capable and dedicated staffs,” adding, “I look forward to applying what I have learned from my colleagues in Cooperstown to my forthcoming work with another of America’s premier history institutions.”
Elliott’s wife, Diane, is executive director at Hyde Hall, the National Historic Landmark mansion on Otsego Lake, so that position likely is being vacated as well.
As VP and chief curator since 1998, D’Ambrosio oversaw preparation of publications – Richard Duncan’s three photo books among them – the collections and acquisitions.
He also assembled notable cornerstone exhibits for NYSHA’s summer season, including “Grandma Moses: Grandmother to the Nation,” in 2006; “America’s Rome” in 2009, tracing the European roots of the year’s “Prendergast to Pollock,” opening Memorial Day weekend.
An adjunct professor at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, he is also an expert on American folk art and author of “Ralph Fasanella’s America” and numerous catalogs and articles. With a B.A. from SUNY Cortland and Ph.D. from Boston University, D’Ambrosio received his master’s from the CGP.
He resides in New Hartford with wife Anna, assistant director of the Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute’s museum, and their children.
Elliott came to NYSHA in 2005 from Virginia, where he was executive director of the First Freedom Center in Richmond. He was with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for 28 years, rising to vice president of education, administration and planning.
He is currently chair of the American Association of State and Local History and the vice president of the Museum Association of New York.
Elliott follows Michael J. Fox, who became the Society’s director when long-time director Nina Archabal retired in January 2011; Fox, a long-time deputy director, is retiring at the end of May.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND: Hall Of Fame Also Says No To Fracking

2011-03-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Freeman’s Journal
CGP student Amanda Monahan shows Claire Nolan, 15, how to make an origami crane at the Cooperstown PTO’s Crayon Carnival Saturday, March 25, at Bursey Gym. The cranes were a fundraiser for tsunami victims in Japan. (More photos, A4)

COOPERSTOWN

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has come out against hydrofracking for natural gas, completing the Clark entities united front against the process. (See statement, A4)

NO FRACKING: Sen. Tony Avella, D-New York City, has introduced state Senate Bill 4220-2011, which would ban hydrofracking.

NEW JUSTICE: The Village Board named Gary Kuch, the former CCS principal and Worcester superintendent, as village justice, replacing Enid Hinkes. He is spouse of newly elected trustee Ellen Tillapaugh Koch.

SIGN OF SPRING: The Fly Creek Cider Mill opens Friday, April 1, for its 155th season.

CARNIVAL FUN – & IT WAS!

2011-03-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

MacKenzie Springer, 3 1/2, rolls a golf ball toward a goal in one of the games testing eye-hand coordination. Cheryl Smith, Hartwick, tends the tot.

visit our pictures page for more photos -- CARNIVAL FUN

AL COLONE OTHER VIEWS: Municipal Mergers = Upstate Survival

2011-03-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

Editor’s Note: Albert Colone, Oneonta, originator of the National Soccer Hall of Fame concept, recently participated in the forming of AMUC – Advocates for the Merging of Upstate Communities.

Banks, hospitals, companies and communities all over the country are merging to better position themselves to compete in the 21st Century marketplace; plus it streamlines operations and improves efficiencies.
Why is there a reluctance to do the same among communities throughout the Upstate New York Region?
Leaders of government and business have been pondering for years about what it will take to jumpstart the Upstate economy. State government has invested mightily in the region with negligible results.
The response is that New York State taxes are too high, there are too many regulations, workers compensation is killing us and that utilities are too expensive.
Those negative conditions may indeed have some bearing on the long-term static economic softness throughout the Upstate Region, but rarely do the experts zero in on the complicated, duplicative structure of local governance.
The Upstate Region is a conglomeration of villages and small cities surrounded by land rich townships that are typically in competition with one another.
In the global economy of the 21st Century, villages and their bordering townships, small cities and their
adjoining townships should unite to better compete, for the well being of their constituents and for the overall survival of their communities.

Here’s what we know:
• The current structure of townships, surrounding cities and villages in Upstate, doesn’t work now and in all likelihood didn’t work when established in the 19th Century
• Merged governments are shown to operate with greater efficiencies
• Merged communities can commercially better serve a regional market
• Combined communities will experience operational savings; as much as 10 percent
• The potential of alternative tax revenues will be strengthened through the merging of municipalities stabilizing or even reducing local property taxes
• Zoning and planning issues will have a more comprehensive and logical framework with better overall outcomes
• Merged communities can be better situated to grow and develop
• It’s a concept that’s trending-up both in New York and in other states.

With but a few exceptions, the Upstate economy and its communities seem to be rotting on the vine, so to speak. You can clearly see it in villages, small cities and their surrounding townships through declining or at best static populations, very limited investment in economic development, a general loss of commerce, neighborhoods deteriorating and in distress, football field lengths of empty store fronts, schools threatening to close, local public budgets stressed to the brink, infrastructures collapsing and other negatives, all too easy to see.
Rather than just complaining about high taxes, too many regulations, high utility costs, things we have little ability to change, there are things that Upstate hometown people can do immediately to begin the process of rejuvenating the region.
There’s an effort underway to try and change that mind-set through the establishment of a broad-based citizens group; Advocates for the Merging of Upstate Communities [AMUC]. Check your boundary lines at the door; all people are welcomed to participate.

Another AMUC interest meeting will be announced soon. In the meantime, for more information and to register only your most serious interest, please contact Albert Colone at: albert@colassoc.com

Fracking Not Fully Understood

2011-03-31T11:28:00.001-07:00

Editor’s Note: The National Baseball Hall of Fame joined its Clark brethren Wednesday, March 23, in opposing fracking. This is the statement.

As a member of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, the National Baseball Hall of Fame supports the chamber’s recent resolution that hydrofracking for shale gas in Otsego County could cause serious damage to the qualities that make Cooperstown a world-renowned tourist destination and a unique community.
The Hall of Fame is an internationally renowned tourist destination whose brand is fully synonymous with Cooperstown.
As an American treasure, and the cornerstone to this region since 1939, the Hall and county would undoubtedly suffer repercussions in the event of problems from hydrofracking – or even the perception thereof.
The natural beauty and quality of life are the essence of Cooperstown. Tourists, who view Cooperstown as a pristine and pastoral escape, would unquestionably consider other destinations unspoiled by the harmful ecological impact of hydrofracking.
A significant drop in visitorship could severely impact the Hall of Fame on many fronts, from day-to-day operations to staffing levels, while also leading to a significant decrease in tourism-related revenue for the village, county and state.
Like the Chamber of Commerce and virtually every other area business, the Hall concludes that hydrofracking could present an unacceptable risk to the local environment, the economy and the quality of life for both local residents and tourists.
As such, we believe that much more complete research and an understanding of the long-term impact of gas exploration and extraction is needed.

Priority One: Roads

2011-03-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

JOSEPH J. BOOAN : MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Village Residents,
If you pay property taxes to the Village of Cooperstown, this message is for you. Compared to 20 years ago, there are fewer of you, your taxes are much higher, and the streets are much worse.
As your mayor, I have proposed a budget for fiscal year June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012, that defines ends and means for remedy on your behalf.
I do not have to tell anyone that our infrastructure is in need of serious, significant and immediate repair. You only have to drive your children to school, make a trip to the Clark Sports Center, or commute on any village street to know that we can do better.
Infrastructure status in the Village of Cooperstown is in CRISIS and we are far behind in pro-actively managing a plan to address this crisis.
My proposal includes:
1) no tax rate increase to residents
2) $140,000 in immediate street repair
3) the shifting of priorities for spending, reducing administrative overhead, modifying benefit packages, controlling purchases of equipment/supplies, eliminating compensation to trustees and the mayor and
4) the start of a long-term plan to save for high-quality, long-term street/sidewalk/infrastructure repair so that our streets and infrastructure do not reach critical mass ever again.
I have proposed savings across the spectrum of village spending as means to reach the ends. You deserve to have your tax dollars work for you by providing immediate relief from our worst streets and, a long term strategy for complete repair.
Through April 30, the trustees can change the means, but you will be badly served if they change the ends. It is my hope that my proposed budget is open to any change in means that maintains the ends: no increase in taxes, improved streets, costs controls, and a better plan moving forward.
I therefore invite the trustees to propose better means to meet the same ends. I challenge the trustees to not change the ends because that would ultimately not serve the residents to the best of our abilities.
The residents of this village deserve more for their tax dollar. The residents deserve a higher standard in quality of life in the village.
All residents will have the opportunity for public comment on April 11 at 22 Main. This is your opportunity to express your opinion and comment on the budget that directly affects you.
Let’s work together to make Cooperstown a wonderful place to live and work.

TURNS 65

2011-03-31T11:19:00.001-07:00

Wintering in Florida, Hope Hansel, West Winfield, celebrated her 65th birthday with eight friends from her bicycle group, The Biker Babes, who flew in from Upstate New York. The ladies biked the trails of Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Starkey Park and Honeymoon Island, Fla. Barbara Michaels, Fly Creek, took this photo at Catches Waterfront Grill, Port Richey.

ARTS GRANT RECIPIENTS

2011-03-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

Jim Kevlin : The Freeman’s Journal

Accepting arts grants from Otsego County entities are, front from left, Mary Johnson Butler, Sweet Adelines ($1,000); Muriel Beattie, Catskill Choral Society ($1,000); Janet Erway, Cooperstown Art Association ($1,500), and Danielle Newell, Smithy Pioneer Gallery ($2,000). Second row, from left, Chris Burrington and Barbara Duffy, both of the Otsego County Dance Society ($1,200); Aaron Sorensen, Oneonta World of Learning/OWL ($2,000), and Debby Zahn, Little Delaware Youth Ensemble ($2,500). Back row, from left, Tom Beattie, choral society; David Hayes, Main Street Oneonta ($1,000); Bob Brzozowski, Greater Oneonta Historical Society ($2,500), and Bob Zack and Donna Raphaelson, both of the Laurens Bicentennial Committee ($1,000). The grants, $71,500 in all for Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties, were presented Thursday, March 25, by the Chenango County Council of the Arts at its Martin W. Kappel Theater in Norwich. The money is available through NYSCA’s Decentralization Grant Program. Applications for the Arts In Education program are now being sought; call Michelle Connelly at 336-2787. Local grant winners unable to attend included Cherry Valley Artworks.

THEY’RE THE TOPS

2011-03-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Jim Kevlin : The Freeman’s Journal

Two managers at The Otesaga will receive Star Awards at the New York State Hospitality Association annual meeting May 2 at the Niagara Falls Conference Center. Nancy Tallman, Cooperstown, executive administrative assistant, will be honored as Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year. Cory Craig, Westford, purchasing manager, is Outstanding Manager of the Year.

Tony Denied Psych Care, Father Says

2011-03-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Pacherille: Son Receives No Counseling In Prison

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

Tony Pacherille

The father of Tony Pacherille, 16, is concerned his son has received no psychiatric counseling in the 10 months he has spent in Otsego County Jail.
“He’s still on suicide watch,” said the father, also named Anthony.
The boy is charged with wounding a fellow CCS student last Good Friday afternoon in Cooper Park; he then turned the rifle on himself, shooting himself in the head.
He has been examined by four psychiatrists in preparation for trial, said the father, and “they all agree that this kid is seriously mentally ill.”
Jail guards check the teen – he is medicated – every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, said the father.
District Attorney John Muehl, the prosecutor, said he’s received assurances from the jail that Pacherille is fine, and that he is meeting weekly with the prison nurse, and the county’s psychiatric nurse is available to him.
But the boy’s father said his son perceives the prison nurse as someone on the side of the prosecution, so does not talk to her.
John Caher, a state Commission of Corrections spokesman, said a prisoner “is entitled to the community standard for medical care, including mental health care. For someone who is clearly in need of psychiatric assistance (such as someone who had attempted suicide), that would include an evaluation, professional risk assessment and, if there is a mental disorder, a written treatment plan that addresses continuing mental health care.”
He said the commission responds to “all allegations of inadequate ... health care.”
The trial – on charges that have been classified as hate crimes; the classmate who was shot was black – is scheduled to begin at the end of May in Otsego County Court.

Mayor Would Hold Taxes Steady: Booan Budget: Save, Put Savings In Roads

2011-03-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Susquehanna Tops List Of Worst Streets

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

It’s a bare-bones budget that keeps taxes stable and eliminates four full-time jobs and three seasonal jobs – the public works superintendent would go and the police chief would be reduced to under halftime.
And it puts all the savings into short-term and mid-range plans to bring village streets up to par in “two budget cycles,” with the top priorities listed as Susquehanna, Beaver, Delaware, Chestnut, Spring, Averill and Grove.
It leaves quality-of-life expenditures – parks, concerts and youth programs – intact.
“We’ve got to change the way we use our money,” Mayor Joe Booan said in an interview on his proposed 2011-12 budget, which was distributed to the trustees Monday, May 21, as required by law. “Village government has to get smaller, and we have to redirect the money according to our priorities.”

Other high points include:
• Asking that the Village Board not accept any salary until trustees “have demonstrated fiscal responsibility, restored significant change in infrastructure, (and) demonstrated a plan for long term savings to address our needs.
• Raises of 2 percent for village employees, but elimination of “longevity payments” some employees have been receiving, and no raises over last summer for seasonal employees
• A determination to develop and implement performance evaluations for village employees, “installing a merit system to encourage best practice, and revising our benefit plan structure. This will increase efficiency, and reduce costs.”
• No department is spared, so that no sector of village governoment bears “an unfair burden.”
• Brian Clancy’s superintendent of public works position is being eliminated because, with the hiring of street superintendent Kurt Carman and strong leaders at the water and sewer plants, it is no longer needed.
• Police Chief Diana Nicols job would be reduced to 4/10ths of a position, since an ACL injury prevents her from leaving the police station. “A six-person department should not require a full-time administrator,” he said.
• Reducing parking-enforcement officer to a part-time job, April 1 to Oct. 1. “People are going to say that’s revenue you’re losing,” said Booan. “In January, February, March, the only revenue we are generating is from our own residents.”

By the timetable set by law, the proposed budget must be acted on by the current Village Board, which has a majority of Booan allies. But the final budget will be approved by the new Village Board that takes office Monday, April 4, and includes three new trustees who ran on the Democratic ticket.
However, with new trustees Jim Dean, Walter Franck and Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch saying they plan to reach independent conclusions issue by issue, it remains to be seen how the board will line up on Booan’s first budget.
The mayor scheduled the first budget discussion with the trustees for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, and said he invited the new trustees to sit in. (He also said he asked the new trustees to meet with him to discuss the business of the organizational meeting, to help ensure they will get the committee assignments they prefer.)
In the interview on the budget, the mayor said he is proposing to again use part of the surplus, although less than last year, to keep the tax rate steady. The current method of village accounting, he said, indicates the surplus is larger than it actually is – $1 million vs. $500,000. But he also learned that a surplus in the water fund can be used for general budget expenses.
In past years, department heads have submitted budget proposals to the Village Board, and trustees have gone through the document line by line.
This time, the mayor asked the department heads to set their own priorities, but the result was “in the double-digits.” He pared it once, then again, to keep the tax rate at $4.63 per $1,000 valuation.

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Mayor Joe Booan examines the deterioration of Susquehanna Avenue, one of the three streets in the village he says most need reconstruction, along with Beaver and Delaware.

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

2011-03-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

SCHOOL DAYS: Glimmerglass University’s third annual session is Saturday, March 26, at Templeton Hall. Registration and a continental breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. Program ends 11:30 a.m., followed by buffet. Adults $60, seniors $50, students $10.

SALE NEARS: The sale of Wilber National Bank is expected to be complete by Friday, April 8, with accounts transferred to Community Bank, Syracuse, Monday the 10th.

OH, BEAUTIFUL: The Town of Springfield’s Fourth of July Committee has chosen the theme, “America the Beautiful,” for this year’s parade, Otsego County’s largest. The grand marshall for the 97th parade will be selected at the next meeting on Monday, March 28.

TICKETS READY: Tickets for upcoming Cooperstown Hawkeyes season are on sale at www.cooperstownhawkeyes.net and at the team’s office in the Key Bank building, third floor.

OPERA, $10: Tickets are also on sale for just $10 to attend “Carmen” on the opening night of the Glimmerglass Festival Saturday, July 2. Call box office, 547-2255.

CARNIVAL TIME: The PTO’s 30th annual Crayon Carnival & Stroll of
Nations is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the CCS’s Bursey Gym, featuring inflatable rides, games, music, food.

The Freeman’s Journal
Jan Buechsenschuetz, Cooperstown Rotary exchange student from Germany, leaped at the opportunity to meet a real, live U.S. politician: State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford. Jan was at the Catskill Symphony Concert Saturday, March 19, with his new host family, the Brietens of Fly Creek.

Anti-Poverty Agency Braces For Federal, State Cuts

2011-03-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Opportunities For Otsego Looks To Ways To Bridge Shortfalls

By JIM KEVLIN

The War on Poverty dates back to LBJ’s State of the Union speech in 1964, but Opportunities for Otsego is still fighting the fight.
In the past decade, its Wheels To Work program has sold used cars, $750 each, to 200 Otsego County families who, living off the OPT lines, wouldn’t have been able to get to jobs otherwise.
Its Homelessness Intervention Grants provide emergency rent payments to people, many of whom have lost their jobs, who would lose the roofs over their heads without it.
CSBGs – Community Services Block Grants – helped OFO create the homeless shelter on Oneonta’s Depew Street, which has been 80 percent occupied for the past year, mostly families with children, 300 individuals in all.
CSBGs also created a shelter for victims of family violence – mothers and children – in a locale unspecified, for obvious reasons, and OFO provides them with legal help and counseling as well.
“There is no other option for the folks who depend on us,” Gary Herzig, OFO’s chief operating officer, said in an interview the other day. “If we can’t help a homeless family, there is no place else they can go for help.”
Contrary to the stereotype, 70 percent of OFO’s client are working people, but working in fast-food, quick-stops, the tourism trade; many of them simply can’t make ends meet, Herzig said.
The poverty level for a family of four is $24,000, he said: Think about how far that goes.
Right now, in particular, none of this is academic, since Congress and the General Assembly in Albany are debating how much to cut all these programs, plus HEAP (heating assistance), Head Start (for pre-schoolers) and much more.
How much? “That’s completely up in the air,” Herzig said.
With the looming threats, he and the CFO, Amy Vogel, have been thinking of ways to raise funds to make up as much as possible for likely shortfalls.
As it happens, OFO is marking its 45th year of service – the sapphire anniversary – so one idea was a celebration, which grew into a gala planned Saturday, May 7, at SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union ballroom.
The evening will also honor Ron Ranc and Roxana Hurlburt of ISD, the Oneonta-based tech company that has assisted OFO in a variety of endeavors.
Other plans are also in the offing, Herzig said.
OFO’s fate is not just important to our most vulnerable neighbors, as it is one of the major employers in the county, with more than 200 people working in sites that range from Schenevus to Richfield Springs to Oneonta’s several sites.
OFO’s budget is $9 million, and 90 percent of that is spent locally, Vogel said. The multiplier effect would suggest that creates more than $20 million in spending power over the years.