News Briefs: December 25, 2025

Financial Report Released

ALBANY—New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released the 2025 New Yorkers’ Financial Snapshot, an overview of household economic health, on Saturday, December 20. Median household net worth declined by $500.00 to $123,400.00 between 2019 and 2023, although median income rose by $10,000.00 to $82,000.00. Unbanked and underbanked households declined from 5.6 percent to 5.1 percent and from 17.7 percent to 15.4 percent, respectively, although significant racial disparities remain. Poverty increased statewide over the four-year span: the proportion of households under the ALICE poverty threshold increased from 43 to 48 percent, SNAP benefits expanded from 14.1 to 16.2 percent of households, and the number of public assistance recipients increased by more than 200,000 to 700,000. More than half of households were unduly burdened by housing costs. To view the full report, visit osc.ny.gov.

Choral Society Auditions Open

ONEONTA—Catskill Choral Society will hold auditions for new members at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 12 Ford Avenue, from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12. All voices are welcome. Tenors and basses are needed in particular. CCS rehearses at the Unitarian Universalist Society every Thursday from 7-9:30 p.m. and will present its next concert on May 1 and 2. For more information or to schedule a 10-minute audition, contact auditions@catskillchoralsociety.org.

Cudmore Signs Book Deal

ONEONTA—Local mystery author Libby Cudmore signed a deal with Ruadán Books for a novel and short story collection on Friday, December 19. The works, expected in 2027, continue her award-winning “Wade and Jacks” series, which began with the 2024 neo-noir thriller “Negative Girl” and a series of short stories in “Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine,” “Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine,” and “Tough.” The novel was a finalist in the Best Standalone Mystery category of the 2025 ITW Thriller Awards, and stories from the collection won the 2023 Black Orchid Novella Award and the 2023 Shamus Award for Best PI Short Story.

‘No Regrets’ Conference Slated

ONEONTA—Main Street Baptist Church, 333 Main Street, will host a livestream of the annual Men’s No Regrets Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 7. The all-day global conference, based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, offers advice and mutual support to men in their lives and faith journeys. Registration is $20.00 and includes lunch and a year of access to the No Regrets app. For more information or to sign up, visit msbchurch.org/events/.

Libraries Receives State Aid

ALBANY—Assemblyman Brian Miller (R, C-New Hartford) announced a total of $296,514.00 in state funding for public libraries in the 122nd District through the FY 2024-25 state budget. Local project support includes $126,000.00 for porch restoration at Oneonta’s Huntington Memorial Library and $36,854.00 for expansion and ADA compliance at the Milford Free Library. For a full list of projects, visit nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/construc/construction-awards.

Hawks Make All-District Team

ONEONTA—Three Hartwick College volleyball players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, joining a league-record set of 36 Empire 8 athletes from 11 institutions. To be eligible for this honor, a student-athlete must maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 and appear in at least 90 percent of the team’s sets, or start in two-thirds of them. Shelby Swartz of Candor, New York had a great senior season, earning E8 First Team All-Conference honors, two E8 Player of the Week accolades and a spot on the All-Tournament team. She led the Hawks with 379 kills, reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career on November 8 and posted a career-high 21 kills while propelling Hartwick to its first ECAC title, for which she earned MVP honors. Sophomore Lucille Walker of Ithaca secured Second Team All-Conference honors with 304 kills and 71 blocks. Junior Isabella Gracias of Oneonta earned Third Team honors, recorded 304 kills and led the team with 82 blocks.

State Offers Spouse Support

ALBANY—The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services recently launched Healing Haven for Military Spouses, a first-in-the-nation statewide peer-to-peer support service for the spouses of service members. It features two 7 p.m. Zoom meetings each month, a stress relief for military spouses section on the first Monday and a self-care for military families section on the third Monday. There will be quarterly in-person retreats. All programs are free. The service is overseen by nationally renowned stress expert Brett Cotter. For more information or to register, visit us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2F2lsRRhSKKGREwofkz7RQ#/registration.

Play Auditions Announced

ONEONTA—The Catskill Community Players will hold auditions for Cat Delaney’s award-winning comedy “Welfarewell” at 297 River Street Service Road in Oneonta from 10 a.m. to noon on January 10 and 1-3 p.m. on January 11. Roles are available for seven women and a man. Performances will be held at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester on April 17-19. For more information or to schedule an audition, contact NancybCouch@yahoo.com.