News Briefs: March 13, 2025

Heitz To Address FCAHS

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Fly Creek Methodist Church, 852 County Route 26, at 6:30 on Wednesday, March 26. Town of Otsego Historian and Iron String Press Contributor Tom Heitz will give a lecture titled “The Fly in Fly Creek,” followed by refreshments and the business meeting. All are welcome.

Job Fair Seeking Employers

HERKIMER—Herkimer College’s Career Services Center will hold its annual Career Fair from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2. Each year, the event attracts hundreds of college students, graduates, and community members interested in jobs and internships. Employers who wish to participate may register for free on Handshake. For more information, contact careerservices@herkimer.edu.

SSA Announces Recent Steps

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Social Security Administration announced that it has disbursed more than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments to more than 1.1 million people through Tuesday, March 4. It is the result of the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which reduced or eliminated benefits for about 3.2 million people with non-covered pensions who did not pay Social Security taxes.

SSA also announced a major effort to identify and correct beneficiary records of people 100 years old or older. While they may not receive benefits, the agency stressed that it values accurate and complete records.

“President Trump made it very clear he wanted the Social Security Fairness Act to be implemented as quickly as possible,” said Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek. “We met that challenge head on and are proudly delivering for the American people.”

Reggae Group To Perform

COOPERSTOWN—The high-energy seven-piece reggae and Jamaican pop band The Big Takeover will perform at Cooperstown Concerts’ 2024-25 season finale at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2. It will be held in the Fenimore Farm and Country Village’s Louis C. Jones Center, 5775 NY-80, which boasts a large dance floor space. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cooperstownconcerts.org.

Rotary Allocations Open Soon

COOPERSTOWN—Rotary Club of Cooperstown will accept applications for financial allocations from April 15-25. Cooperstown-area organizations that meet at least one of the following Rotary missions are eligible: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, or protecting the environment. Nonprofits are preferred, but for-profit applications will receive full consideration. To view the full criteria or to apply, visit Rotary’s website at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/3556.

Helios ‘Dine Out’ Returns

ONEONTA—Helios Care’s Dine Out for a Cause fundraiser will return for its third season this month. It allows community members to support local restaurants, enjoy a delicious meal, and raise money for palliative care services across Otsego, Delaware, and Schoharie counties. Toscana of Oneonta will hold one of the events on Wednesday, March 19, followed by The Autumn Café on Monday, March 23. The B Side Ballroom and Supper Club will host on Thursday, April 3, and Sloan’s New York Grill will participate on Thursday, April 24. Bella Michael’s has two such events scheduled for Wednesdays, May 7 and 21. For more information, or to see more upcoming Dine Out dates as they are announced, visit Helios Care’s Facebook page.

Rotary Will Host SWMC Talk

FRANKLIN—Franklin Rotary will host a special presentation by Delaware County Solid Waste Management Center Coordinator Tyson Robb at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. Robb will address the many services SWMC provides and answer community questions. The event will be held at Open Doors United Methodist Church, on the corner of Main and Water streets. For more information, contact franklinrotary7170@gmail.com.

NY Expensive for New Biz

SHERIDAN, WY—Simplify LLC released a study on the most and least expensive states to start a business, based on recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve of St. Louis, and others. New York was the second most expensive state, behind only California. High wages, robust regulation, and soaring rent and electricity fees drove up the cost considerably. View the full study at https://www.simplifyllc.com/most-and-least-expensive-states-to-start-a-business-2025/.

Fairy Spring Meeting Slated

COOPERSTOWN—Friends of the Parks will hold a public information meeting on proposed changes to Fairy Spring Park at the Village Meeting Room, 22 Main Street, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. The project includes accessibility work, ADA-compliant restrooms, road renovations and restoration of the caretaker’s cabin. The public is encouraged to attend.

Foundation Hits $1M Mark

JOHNSON CITY—The Community Foundation of South Central New York announced that its Library Fund endowment reached $1 million, allowing them to grant nearly $30,000.00 to libraries and historical societies in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga counties this year. The Broome Library Foundation was established in 1999 to oversee the development of the new Broome County Public Library and Reading Garden, and merged with CFSCNY in 2008. Since then, they have provided more than $115,000.00 in grants to 34 regional organizations. For more information, visit donorswhocare.org.

Contaminated Milk Found

BALLSTON SPA—The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued a consumer warning on unpasteurized raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm in Ballston Spa due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on Tuesday, March 4. Listeria caused listeriosis, which may be fatal in children, cancer patients, the elderly and other immunocompromised populations. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women. To date, no illnesses have been reported. Consumers who have purchased raw milk from Willow Marsh should dispose of it immediately and contact the farm at (518) 288-3347.

Arc Offering VR Job Training

ONEONTA—The Arc Otsego, one of the county’s leading service providers for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, announced a new virtual reality-based career exploration and training program in partnership with Transfr, Inc. Supported by an anonymous donor, this innovative program will provide immersive, hands-on vocational training in a variety of fields from manufacturing to hospitality and health care.

“This technology represents a transformative approach to job skills training and career exploration,” said Arc Otsego Chief Marketing Officer Faith Tiemann. “Transfr’s solution allows our individuals to practice and master job skills repeatedly without pressure, building both competence and confidence that will serve them well in real-world employment settings.”

To learn more about the program or how to partner with The Arc Otsego on employment opportunities at a local business, contact pr@arcotsego.org.

Art Show Ends Saturday

COOPERSTOWN—The Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opened an animal-themed art show with work by Cooperstown Central School students on Friday, March 7. “Pawsitive Vibes” will remain on display during regular business hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, until Saturday, March 15. Members of the public are encouraged to view the exhibit and socialize with adoptable animals. The shelter is located at 5082-5088 State Route 28, just south of the Village of Cooperstown.

Hellenthal Breaks Records

ITHACA—Cooperstown junior Thomas Hellenthal broke two school records in his second appearance at the state swimming championships on Saturday, March 8. He placed sixth in the 100m backstroke in a time of 51.15 seconds, beating Ted Mebust’s 2018 Cooperstown school record by 0.23 seconds. His 47.16 time in the 100m freestyle placed him 10th in the state and broke Sean Mebust’s 2015 record of 47.39.

CCS Hoops Sweep Sectionals

SYRACUSE—Cooperstown girls basketball beat top-seeded division rival Hamilton 44-34 in the Section III Class C playoffs in Syracuse on Sunday, March 9. Senior Brenna Seamon scored 14 points and made nine rebounds, earning her the tournament MVP title. Her sisters Piper and Danielle won the same award in 2020 and 2023, respectively. Seventh-grader Emma Johnson put away another 14 points, followed by eighth-grader Lanie Nelen with nine. Senior Polly Kennedy scored four points and made eight rebounds. The Hawkeyes hold a 20-4 season record and will face Section IV Class C victor Delaware Academy (Delhi) at Tompkins Cortland Community College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.

The boys team slipped past Waterville 76-67 to win their own sectional championship in Syracuse on Saturday, March 8. Junior phenom Miles Nelen scored 35 points, nearly half of the team’s total, to win tournament MVP honors. Senior Cooper Bradley and junior Christian Lawson each scored 17 points, and Bradley recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds. The Hawkeyes maintained their undefeated 24-0 season record and will face Section IV champion Moravia at Vision Veterans Arena in Binghamton at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.

Job Openings Hard To Fill

ALBANY—The National Federation of Independent Business released its monthly jobs report, finding that 38 percent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in February. This represents an increase of three percent over January and the highest reading since August. Openings were highest in retail, manufacturing and construction. Nineteen percent of small business operators reported labor quality as their top concern, followed by 12 percent blaming labor costs. To view the lobbying group’s full report, visit nfib.com.