News Briefs: March 5, 2026

State Designates Bank District

MORRIS—New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Acting Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services Kaitlin Asrow announced the approval of the Butternut Valley Banking Development District and deposited $35 million in state funds in Sidney Federal Credit Union’s Morris branch. The BDD program supports the establishment of bank and credit union branches in underserved regions of the state. The new district covers the towns of Butternuts, New Lisbon and Morris. The towns, the villages of Gilbertsville and Morris, and the Butternut Valley Alliance partnered with SFCU’s application.

“Sidney Federal Credit Union is both excited and grateful to the New York State Department of Financial Services for recognizing the Butternut Valley as a Banking Development District,” said Jim Reynolds, president and chief executive officer of SFCU. “This designation supports our mission to bring greater access to financial services and opportunity to rural communities that are often overlooked. We appreciate the partnership and support from the Department of Financial Services, the Butternut Valley Alliance, our municipal partners, and the residents of the Butternut Valley in helping make this possible. We look forward to working together to create a lasting, positive impact for Morris and surrounding communities.”

“Butternut Valley Alliance, through the Save Our Bank initiative that brought SFCU to Morris, is pleased to have worked with SFCU to achieve Banking Development District approval,” said BVA Vice Chair Maggie Brenner. “This designation is important for our municipalities to have local banking services and is a testament to the DFS recognition of the growth potential in our valley.”

New Music Festival Coming

EAST MEREDITH—The West Kortright Center announced that its inaugural Bucolic Valley, an intimate one-day psychedelic rock music festival, will take place on Saturday, August 22. It will feature a full day of music, colorful visuals and offerings from local vendors. The Mystery Lights will headline a lineup featuring Windows, Kid Bess and the Magic Ring, Gracie Gray, uncleshake and more, with additional groups to be announced. Passes will go on sale on westkc.org and bucolicvalley.org on Monday, March 9. Discounted pricing is available to WKC members. Individuals and groups interested in sponsoring the festival or WKC should contact info@westkc.org.

CAA Reception Is March 6

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Art Association’s annual Spring Cleaning Art Bazaar, a sale of gently used fine arts, crafts and supplies from local artists and patrons, will run in Gallery A from March 7-28. “Comfort Reimagined: The Art of Stuffies,” a collaborative exhibit between Milford K-2 elementary students and high-schoolers based on stuffed animals, will be displayed in Gallery B from March 7-27. It will begin with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 6. The CAA gallery shop also opens for the season on March 7. For more information, visit cooperstownart.com.