COOPERSTOWN—Miss Puggles enjoys a walk along Willow Brook. Miss Puggles is 12 years old. She is a retired therapy dog owned by Brian and Kathy Clancy. Adopted from the Susquehanna SPCA when she was about 4 months old, Miss Puggles is reportedly a very happy dog who loves everyone she meets, treats, and her mom and dad. We invite you to send pictures of your furry, feathered or finned friends to darlay@allotsego.com. Every week, we’ll select at least one photograph to be highlighted in the newspapers. Photo by Richard Clancy
CARNIVAL CAPERS Mary Margaret Kuhn, top, enjoys a stop at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market during Winter Carnival 2023. Above, Winter Carnival Committee members Claire Kepner and Caspar Ewig, Iron String Press contributing writer, check diners in at the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. The Winter Carnival returned this year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos by Molly Seidl
COMMUNITY VOICES Five immigrants now living in the area—Al Amendolare (Frankfort), Natalia McPherson (Index), Paula Rudloff (Cooperstown), Emelia Williams (Index), and Cristina Hansen Ruiz (Cooperstown)—shared their personal experiences of adjusting to life in the United States during a panel discussion held on Sunday, January 22 at the Village Library of Cooperstown. The panelists, hailing from various countries, spoke about the cultural differences they faced, as well as the struggles with racism and discrimination some of them encountered. They also provided insight into the challenges they and their ancestors faced in getting established in this country. Despite these difficulties, the panelists expressed gratitude for the welcoming and helpful community they have found. Panelists also took questions and comments from the audience. This event, part of the Sunday Speaker Series, was presented by The Friends of the Village Library. Photo by Alex Torres
ONEONTA—Chelly Nicholson, above, placed third in the Community Arts Network of Oneonta’s 18th annual Chili Bowl Cook-Off and Fundraiser on Saturday, February 11, in the “People’s Choice, Amateur” category. Nicholson is pictured with CANO Board President Jim Maloney. The full list of prize winners is below. Judges Choice: 1. Our Town Cafe; 2. SUNY Delhi; 3. Soda Jerks. People’s Choice, Amateur: 1. Tie: Sean and Doria Hall; 2. Lorraine Brady; 3. Chelly Nicholson. People’s Choice, Professional: 1. SUNY Delhi; 2. Wise Guy’s Sammy’s; 3. Our Town Cafe.
Photo by Milo Stewart Jr.,/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
COOPERSTOWN—Scott Rolen visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Tuesday, February 28 for his orientation tour. Rolen will be inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame class during Induction Weekend, July 21-24. He is a seven-time All-Star who won eight Gold Glove Awards for fielding at third base during a 17-season career in the major leagues. This is Rolen’s sixth year on the ballot. From left: Niki Rolen (Scott’s wife), Finn Rolen (son), Raine Rolen (daughter) and Scott Rolen. They are sitting on a bench in the museum in front of a photo of the 1939 Hall of Fame Induction Class.
HARTWICK—Tom and Betty Steele’s granddaughter, Lily Luna Goodspeed, developed a special bond with one of the Steeles’ hens during a recent visit from California with her father, Jimmy Goodspeed. “I needed a name for one of my hens that I adopted from the SQSPCA. Lily Luna decided to name her Popcorn. So fitting,” Betty Steele said. We invite you to send pictures of your furry, feathered or finned friends to darlay@allotsego.com. Every week, we’ll select at least one photograph to be highlighted in the newspapers and online.
Joanie Lamb stands in front of Highclere Castle, site of the famous BBC drama “Downton Abbey.”
By TED MEBUST HAMPSHIRE, ENG When their plans fell through to visit England in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, locals Randy and Joanie Lamb had to hope the opportunity would arise again. Their goal? To visit Highclere Castle, a charming estate in Hampshire County made famous as the palatial country home to the Crawley family and their domestic servants on the award-winning BBC drama “Downton Abbey.”
In reality, the mid-Victorian, Palladian-style manor exists as the country seat to the Earls of Carnarvon. The Herbert family, a succession of aristocrats holding prominence in the upper echelons of British society, traces their connection to the estate back to the 17th century. Renovations in the 19th century expanded the structure, based on designs by Sir Charles Barry, chief architect of the Houses of Parliament.
Notable Earls of Carnarvon include the fifth, styled Lord Porchester, who became an avid Egyptologist during the latter half of his life. Partnering with archaeologist Howard Carter, his team uncovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of Kings in 1922. Additionally, the seventh Earl of Carnarvon, also commonly referred to as Lord Porchester, served as horseracing manager to Queen Elizabeth II. His personal relationship with the late queen was highlighted in the Netflix drama “The Crown.” The Lambs were also able to visit the queen’s final resting place at Windsor Castle.
Their tour of Highclere, Randy said, “created an experience” with the land and estate, and provided him an opportunity to learn. As the gift shop manager at local historic landmark Hyde Hall, he said, he’s always looking for ways to improve the guest experience.
Hyde Hall got a boost in visitation when “Downton Abbey” first aired in 2011, Randy said, helping the 501c3 organization continue its restoration project and stewardship. Most recently, local weaver Rabbit Goody completed a remake of the home’s original curtains in the dining room.
“I hope it [this story] will encourage folks to travel again, enjoy other cultures and experience all that life has to offer while we can!” said Randy.
Jade Olinsky, a CCS eighth-grader, spends time with Murphy and Fish during their visit.
THAT’S WHAT HEROES DO Sweethearts & Heroes, a student empowerment and empathy activation team that aims to prevent bullying and suicide—with a focus on social-emotional health—returned to the Cooperstown Central School District on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 10 and 11. For more than 15 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented a program they refer to as “the stop, drop and roll of bullying” to more than two million students in school districts from New England to Hawaii. “We go where we’re needed. That’s what heroes do,” said Sweethearts & Heroes Director Tom Murphy, himself a Cooperstown Central School alumnus.
COOPERSTOWN—The New Jersey Warriors Hockey Team poses in front of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, February 18. “Even though they have traveled all across the country, every one of the players, coaches and board members that came has posted that they have never felt the love as much from any community they have been to as the love that was shown to them here in Cooperstown. I thank each and every one of you for making their trip here so memorable,” wrote Barry Shelley, who coordinated the event, in a Facebook post on Monday, February 20.
Capt. Zachary German, a member of the 105th Airlift Wing, is the Company Grade Officer of the year for the New York Air National Guard for 2023.
NEWBURGH An Oneonta resident, Capt. Zachary German, is one of two members of the 105th Airlift Wing to be named Airmen of the Year by the 5,880-member New York National Air Guard. German was named the Company Grade Officer of the Year for 2023, while Senior Master Sgt. Renea Turner, of Middletown, was selected as First Sergeant of the Year for 2023.
The 105th Airlift Wing is based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.
German, who joined the New York Air National Guard in 2017, is the medical plans and operations officer for the wing’s 105th Medical Group Detachment 1. He is responsible for daily operations and readiness of the medical detachment and coordination for all training, exercises, and operations.
The long-awaited Freight Wheel Café offers free wi-fi and printer access, with space to eat, work, and socialize.
By MAE LOEWENGUTH HARTWICK An analyst from Bassett Healthcare and an environmental advocate have been working since 2009 to restore what was once known as O.S. Burch & Son, a dry goods/general store. The historical building, dating back to 1864, is now known as the Freight Wheel Café.
Owners Martha and Paul Clarvoe met and were wed in the state of Maryland. They later decided it was time to get back to nature—eventually choosing upstate New York, where they settled and raised three children.
Tapped for Service COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Democratic Committee caucus nominated George Fasanelli (left) and Joe Membrino (right) for reelection to the Cooperstown Village Board of Trustees on Monday, January 30. Current trustee MacGuire Benton has chosen to pursue the position of Otsego County clerk rather than running for reelection. The members of the committee thanked Benton for his four years on the board and for bringing a new generation into Cooperstown government. Similarly, Membrino has been on the board for four years—one year when appointed to fill out the term of former trustee Lou Allstadt and three years from his first elected term. The Cooperstown Village Board of Trustees election will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on March 21 at the Cooperstown Fire Department, 24 Chestnut Street.
Editor’s Note: Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh was a panelist at the recent Otsego County Chamber of Commerce “State of the State” Breakfast. The following is her address.
Good morning and thank you to the Otsego County Chamber for hosting this forum. I am honored to be included on this panel of city, county, and state elected officials and a representative of Congress.
For most of you, the calendar year is your fiscal year. That is not the case for our village—the Village of Cooperstown’s fiscal year is June 1st to May 31st, so we are two-thirds of the way through our current 2022-23 budget. Next month we will begin budget workshops to have a tentative 23-24 budget in place by the mandated deadline of March 20th.
Our General Fund budget is usually about $4.1 million and we also have separate Water and Sewer budgets which total approximately 2.2 million, resulting in about a $6.3 million dollar village budget.
OTSEGO LAKE—Above, SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Master Diver Trainer Paul H. Lord, SUNY Oneonta BFS Volunteer Diver and Diver Instructor David Turner, SUNY Oneonta graduate biology major Brandon Guerrero and SUNY Oneonta undergraduate biology major Kari Minissale smile after diving in Otsego Lake to retrieve the Springfield Landing no-wake zone buoy on Saturday, December 17.
CLERK OFF THE CLOCK: Kathy Sinnott Gardner, who has served as Otsego County clerk since 2003, recently announced her retirement from the position. After nearly three decades of service to Otsego County in total, her term will end on December 31, 2023. A Republican, Gardner plans to pursue new career opportunities, saying she will “miss serving the people of Otsego County.” Current Otsego County Deputy Clerk Jennifer Basile, also a Republican, announced her candidacy to fill the seat the day after Gardner’s retirement announcement. A Town of Otsego resident, Basile has worked in her current position for nearly a decade-and-a-half, according to her announcement. Before Basile’s tenure began in 2009, she said, she worked in various managerial roles for a total of 12 years. The election will take place on Tuesday, November 7.
