PROTEST – 1 – 5 p.m. Come for a peaceful protest against the police violence that led to the death of George Floyd, raise money to support NAACP & ACLU. Be prepared to socially distance, wear your masks. Bring your friends, loved ones, and signs. All are welcome. Otsego County Courthouse, Cooperstown.
Evvergreen’s Margaret Uhalde, left Chris Scaduto perform “It’s All You” in a studio concert performed as part of Oneonta Pridefest 2020, being presented virtually this year due to the COVID-19. The event included remarks from Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Ron Zacchi, Director Of External Affairs for the NYS Department of Human Rights, as well as members of the Otsego County Pride Alliance. At right, Mayor Gary Herzig gave remarks honoring the occasion in a time of crisis. “In Oneonta, it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, what your religion is, or who you love, we’ve come together to get through this, and going forward, we’ll be stronger than ever. So Happy Pride, and next year, I’ll see you back in the park!” The event continues until 8 p.m., with a time of remembrance and presentations by Bold Theatrics, ENORMOUS Little Things and Sweet Marie.
COOPERSTOWN – A $16,963.64 check this week has brought the Shelter Us drive one-third of the to its latest matching challenge grant of $100,000.
The SQSPCA is $1.2 million away from its Shelter Us campaign target of $5 million.
Ben Guenther, proprietor of Five Star Subaru, Oneonta, presented the check this week SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes.
VIRTUAL PRIDEFEST – 2 – 8 p.m. Celebrate Pride 2020. Online event will include opening ceremony, speeches, musical performances, more. This years theme is ‘Colors of Pride.’ Visit www.facebook.com/otsegopride/ for info.
VIRTUAL THEATER – Enjoy past productions recorded live from the Glimmerglobe theater. Showing ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ performed 2019. The Fenimore Art Museum. www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/
ALBANY – Governor Cuomo today announced outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted in Otsego County and communities in the seven economic development communities that have entered Phase Two of NY Forward.
Outdoor dining can begin tomorrow in Otsego’s Mohawk Valley region, and also the Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the North Country, the Southern Tier and Western New York.
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – Coronavirus-era concerns raised by 500 people packed into Muller Plaza at last Sunday’s rally for justice may be avoided this coming Sunday in front the county courthouse here.
“We will have people spread out to the extent possible,” said Village Trustee MacGuire Benton, who attended last week’s rally and is one of four people organizing this one.
People will be asked to wear masks and to gather in several groups of no more than 50 people each, he said. Plus, the Cooperstown Distillery is donating 10 bottles of Cooper’s Clean hand-sanitizer to hinder the spread of any infection.
RABIES CLINIC – 9 – Noon. Free rabies vaccination for cats, dogs, ferrets. Scheduling for 30 minute intervals to follow social distancing. First come, first serve. Susquehanna SPCA, Rt. 28, Cooperstown. 607-547-4230 or visit sqspca.org/sqspca-offering-free-weekly-rabies-clinics-on-first-come-first-served-basis/
By JIM KEVLIN ׇ• Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – After tabling the measure two weeks ago, the county Board of Representatives today rallied behind Destination Marketing of 
Otsego County, with nine reps rejecting a resolution to reduce funding for its promotional arm from 15 percent to 24 percent.
Rep. Andrew Stammel, D-Town of Oneonta, proposed the larger cut for DMCOC, saying, “With the present state of the industry” – tourism – “we’re not going to be doing as much in this atmosphere.” Michele Farwell, D-Morris, second the motion.
ONEONTA – Aaron Michael Willey, 34, who spent his childhood in Burlington Flats, died unexpectedly on May 27, 2020, in Oneonta.
He was born on Sept. 12, 1985, to Deborah L. Perkins (Willey) and Christopher Posada in Middletown.
Aaron grew up in Burlington Flats and attended Edmeston Central School.
Aaron received a diploma of legal assistant/paralegal from the Blackstone Career Institute in 2006.
FLY CREEK – Sharon Ann Congelli, 74, who most recently lived with her daughter in Fly Creek, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2020, following a valiant seven-year battle with glioblastoma. She was 74.
Born Nov. 20, 1945, in North Hornell, Sharon was the daughter of Duane E. and Carol J. (Bricks) Knapp of Atlanta. After graduating from high school in Wayland she attended the Continental School of Beauty in Rochester.
While she was employed at several places throughout her life, she was best known as the manager of the Home Video store located in the Wayland Food Mart, for over 25 years. Prior to managing the video store, Sharon worked for the Wayland Central School as part of the high school cafeteria staff, a position she enjoyed and from which lifelong friendships were born as evidenced by monthly lunch gatherings with the “cafeteria ladies” held for decades after.
ONEONTA – Joan Kammerer Torrey, 95, who arrived in Oneonta by train & returned every summer, passed away at home in Clearwater, Fla., on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
She was born in the Bronx, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (McKinney) Kammerer.
She graduated from Haverstraw High School.
After high school, she came to Oneonta on a train, arriving at what is now The Depot Restaurant. While attending Oneonta State Teachers College, she met her future husband, Arthur Torrey. They married in 1946, after he returned from the Air Force. Together they raised a family of five boys, Arthur Jr., Brian, Craig, Damon and Eric (ABCDE).
COOPERSTOWN – Karen Sullivan, director of the county Planning Department, will retire at the end of the month, county board Chairman David Bliss, R-Cooperstown/Town of Middlefield, announced a few minutes ago.
An Oneonta native (her maiden name was Laskaris), she joined the Planning Department in 2006, and succeeded Terry Bliss on his retirement in 2013. She previously had been with the Delaware County Planning Department.
A graduate of SUNY Oneonta, she later received a landscaping degree from Alfred University.
ONEONTA – Wayne Stanley Cook I, 82, owner of Wayne’s Cars and a former meat cutter at Bruno Scavo’s grocery, passed away Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Oneonta, where he was a resident for the past 5 years during his battle with Alzheimer’s.
Wayne was born Oct. 25, 1937 in Oneonta, the first of eleven children of the late LaVerne Alberti Cook and Ruth Margaret Cronkite. He grew up on the family farm at Star Route, Franklin and graduated from Delaware Literary Institute and Franklin Central School, class of 1956. Shortly after, Wayne joined the Army National Guard, Company C, 2nd Armored Rifle Battalion, 108th Infantry at Camp Drum.