Taylor Colone-Microni of Oneonta was instrumental in the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs’ recent trip to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The Mustangs earned a berth in the tourney after defeating two seed Penn State Harrisburg to win the United East Championship on February 25, a game for which Colone-Microni received Most Valuable Player honors.
Many young people aspire to follow their dreams. Colone-Microni chased hers.
“As far back as I can remember, even as a young child, I wanted to play basketball,” she recalled.
The Cooperstown Art Association Galleries will display the exhibit, “Community Murals: Spanning Generations,” through Friday, March 31. Max Jones, a Cooperstown High School senior, is showing his recent work on one side of Gallery A. The other side features murals by Frank M. Van Auken, a veteran and lifelong member of the local community, who passed away at the age of 102 in November of 2022.
Jones, 17, has been developing his style for years. For this exhibit, however, he had only about four weeks to assemble a portfolio.
ELECTRICAL VEHICLES—6-8 p.m. Join Otsego County Conservation Association for an informative meeting on vehicle electrification trends in Otsego County. Discussed will be current rebates and incentives, plans to increase EV chargers in the region, and tools for individuals and municipalities to decide what EV is right for them. Cooperstown Village Ballroom, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/future-of-transportation-in-otsego-county/
Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, president and chief executive officer of Bassett Healthcare Network, has been named to a select list of esteemed healthcare industry professionals profiled in the “Becker’s Hospital Review” article titled “80 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know 2023.” As noted in the article: “Rural hospitals are critical to the success of the U.S. healthcare system to expand access to care in remote areas. CEOs at the helm of these important community institutions have many responsibilities to make sure their hospitals thrive.”
The Becker’s article continues: “The executives featured on this list have put their heart and soul into ensuring their communities have access to the best healthcare services possible. While rural hospitals across the country have faced closure in recent years, these leaders have developed a model for not only surviving but thriving.”
“The headwinds against us are serious,” said Dr. Ibrahim, who was also recently featured in “Lessons from the C-suite,” a podcast series hosted by Advisory Board President Eric Larsen that covers conversations with the most influential leaders in healthcare. “But I also believe that some of the very elements that have conventionally been regarded as disadvantageous to rural systems—like wide geographic areas, scarcity of hospital beds and physicians, geographic maldistribution of doctors, insufficient reimbursement, etc.—may, in fact, turn out to be advantages in a digital health age.”
“At the end of the day, the vision is for Bassett to be the model of care for rural health in the U.S.,” Dr. Ibrahim continued.
FIGURE THIS—6-9 p.m. Practice drawing from life in the studio with models. Professional artist Jonathan Pincus will be on hand to answer questions. $15/session. Cooperstown Art Association. (607) 547-9777 or visit cooperstownart.com
After a year of research and development, followed by months of filming and editing, “A Roadhouse Coup,” the film, has begun making appearances on video on demand platforms.
“It’s been an incredible undertaking and we were fortunate to have so many members of the community take part. It’s rewarding to see everyone’s hard work come to fruition and know that it is now making its way into the streaming market,” Lori Bailey said.
Bailey wrote, directed and produced the film, which depicts the true story of Eva Coo—the local brothel owner convicted in 1935 of killing Harry “Gimpy” Wright on Crumhorn Mountain Road, tried and convicted in Otsego County, then executed by electric chair at Sing Sing Prison in June 1935. Local dignitaries and residents fill the scenes, with notables like Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh, Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek, Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl, and retired state Senator Jim Seward all in starring roles.
“A Roadhouse Coup” is currently available on Vimeo on Demand. Community members can look forward to seeing it appear on Apple TV and many more outlets in the very near future, Bailey said.
COMMUNITY HIKE—9:45 a.m. The community is invited for a group hike with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Please bring appropriate clothing, gear, enough water to stay hydrated and be aware of your level of fitness. Contact hike leader for more information. This week’s hike will be at the SUNY College Camp, 119 Hoffman Road, Oneonta, with hike leader Peggy Palmer (607) 432-6024 or visit susqadk.org
ONEONTA—Roger A. Boulay, 64, passed away at home with his wife, Amy, by his side on March 25, 2023.
He was born on February 23, 1959 in Heidelberg, Germany, the son of Gilbert and Erna (Prinzl) Boulay.
Roger graduated from Unatego Central School, Class of 1977, and from SUNY Oneonta, Class of 1982. He was proud of his German heritage, and the best-spent year of his life was as a Rotary Club exchange student after high school in Germany.
Roger’s entire working career was in farm equipment, starting in 1975 at his family’s business, Catskill Tractor, which transitioned in 2003 to White’s Farm Supply.
All doctors must occasionally have conversations with their patients about unpleasant things, but I think my field might take the cake. As a gastroenterologist, I have to routinely ask patients for colonoscopies and stool samples to screen for deadly disease. It may seem scary, unpleasant and gross—but I love what I do. I love helping people through routine processes that literally save lives.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Monitoring your colon’s health to catch any problems early is something we all need to do when we reach a certain age. Despite the bad reputation colonoscopies have, the process is very simple, safe and it really works.
Cooperstown and Otsego County were well represented at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony held on March 12 in Los Angeles. Wine influencer Elle Rodriguez, whose Instagram tag is The Modern Pour, donned a pair of earrings made by Cooperstown resident Karen Katz for the event, and the rest is history.
Katz, owner of Karen Katz Studio, remembers Rodriguez, who attended a trunk show at Kate’s Upstate on Main Street, though she’s not sure exactly when that was.
COLLEGE COMEDY—9-10 p.m. Join Mary Santora for an evening of slightly dark, incredibly quick, observational style comedy drawn from real life experiences. It’s a storytelling driven ride with audience interaction and more. Hunt Union Waterfront, SUNY Oneonta. (607) 436-3012 or visit connect.oneonta.edu/organization/activities
BLOOD DRIVE—1-6 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. Register at redcrossblood.org
TAX PREP—6-8 p.m. Get ready for tax season with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Hartwick college accounting students certified by the IRS, with their professor, will be available to provide one-on-one assistance in preparing individual tax returns. Either in person or online. Held at the Golisago Hall, 2nd Floor, Hartwick College, Oneonta. (607) 431-4338 or visit facebook.com/ofoinc/
“True Friends,” an exhibition of works by Nancy Waller (1918-2017) dedicated to her close friend, Ellen St. John (1925-2023), opened on Friday, March 10 at The Art Garage. The show is intended to help build awareness of, and raise funds for, the new Ellen St. John Peacemaker Award. This award will be given annually to a graduating Cooperstown Central School student who is recognized as a peacemaker by the school community. Funds will be managed by the Friends Fiduciary, a Quaker investment firm. Donations will also be accepted.
St. John’s many friends include Deborah Dickinson, one of the driving forces behind establishing the award. “The hope is to keep her loving, creative spirit alive by investing in young people who show their own capacity for creating possibilities for peaceful solutions to conflict in school and the wider community—and who plan to continue with peacemaking efforts in the future.”
SPRING SWING—2-6 p.m. The community is invited for an afternoon of swing dancing. Start with a beginner West Coast swing lesson with Linda Leverock and then dance the day away. Includes light refreshments and a cash bar for those aged 21+. Admission, $20 at the door. Foothills Performing Arts & Civics Center, Oneonta. (607) 434-9878 or visit foothillspac.org
SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle addresses those gathered for the Regional Innovation Council launch at the B Side Ballroom on March 15. Photo provided.
Alberto Cardelle, PhD, MPH, is the sixth president of SUNY Oneonta. Since taking office in September 2021, he has methodically overseen an assessment of the needs of the region that SUNY Oneonta lives in, and he has reached a conclusion. There are many great things going on in Otsego County, Cardelle said, but most operate in silos that inhibit efficiency, lead to duplication of effort and, most importantly, fail to reach potential. Thus, Dr. Cardelle has created the Regional Innovation Council, a group of some 170 stakeholders countywide that intends to break down silos, enhance dialogue, and facilitate collaboration with the goal of improving life for all residents of Otsego County and beyond.
The local chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization has been a strong force behind the mission of women helping women achieve academic success in Otsego County since 1963.
Cindy Korb, president of the Oneonta-based PEO chapter, is proud of the many accomplishments and awards made possible to deserving women of not just Otsego County but the entire state.
