News Briefs: September 18, 2025

‘I Voted’ Contest Announced

ONEONTA—In honor of Constitution Day, the Hartwick Institute of Public Service announced an “I Voted” sticker design contest for local students. It is open to elementary, middle, high-school and college students, with one winning design chosen from each cohort. The selected designs will be distributed to voters at Hartwick College’s polling place in November. High-school and college winners will also receive a $100.00 prize. Paper or digital designs will be accepted as photographs at instituteofpublicservice@hartwick.edu. More information and eligibility guidelines may be found at https://www.hartwick.edu/academics/academic-departments/political-science-department/institute-of-public-service.

Bassett Announces Vol Drives

COOPERSTOWN—Bassett Healthcare Network will hold volunteer drives at Cooperstown’s Bassett Medical Center and Oneonta’s FoxCare Center on October 2 and 7, respectively. The former will take place in the lobby of the Fieldstone Building, 1 Atwell Road, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while the latter will be held in the Main Concourse at 1 FoxCare Drive at the same time. Volunteer positions are available in a wide variety of locations across the network, including information desks, emergency departments, long-term care facilities and more. Bassett runs a Volunteer Program, a Junior Volunteer Program and a local chapter of No One Dies Alone. Interested volunteers who cannot attend may contact the Volunteer Services Office at (607) 547-3120 or bhnhr@bassett.org. Volunteer applications are available at Bassett.org/volunteer.

Stores Launch Pet Food Drive

OTSEGO COUNTY—In celebration of Market 32’s 10th anniversary, Market 32 and Price Chopper stores will run a pet food drive through Saturday, October 4. Customers will have the option to purchase and donate $10.00 bags of pet food to local animal shelters. Donations will benefit animals awaiting adoption and outreach programs that provide support to pet owners experiencing food insecurity.

Hartwick To Dedicate Center

ONEONTA—Hartwick College will hold a dedication ceremony for its new Belonging Center during True Blue Weekend, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 20. Located on the fourth floor of Yager Hall, the center will be renamed in honor of Harry Bradshaw Matthews, a retired associate dean, founding director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs and the U.S. Pluralism Center, and recipient of the College’s Doctor of Humane Letters in 2024. Matthews is a nationally recognized scholar and activist with a research specialty in African American military history and access to education. He led the United States Colored Troops Institute, dedicated to the study and celebration of the approximately 180,000 Black men in uniform who helped win the American Civil War. Following the dedication, guests are invited to view the Yager Museum’s exhibition “Memorializing the Underground Railroad: The Harry Bradshaw Matthews Collection,” on display through December 12.

RAG Announces Transition

ROXBURY—Roxbury Arts Group announced that the 2025 season marked the end of Jenny Rosenzweig’s 14-year tenure as executive director. She oversaw 14 seasons of live music, local art and workshops, continued programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded the organization into Stamford, increased professional development and grant opportunities for Delaware County artists, and supported the arts in 14 school districts across four counties. The Board of Directors has launched a search for new leadership and requests that interested candidates submit a resume and letter of interest to jobs@roxburyartsgroup.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. More information may be found at roxburyartsgroup.org.

CCE Joins MVG Fundraiser

COOPERSTOWN—Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego County announced that it will participate in Mohawk Valley Gives, a community-wide fundraising drive that will be held on Friday, September 19. Last year, the giving day raised more than $5 million for hundreds of local organizations. CCESO seeks to raise $5,000.00 to expand its Veggie Van program, a mobile market initiative that provided local produce to nearly 1,500 food-insecure Herkimer County residents last year. They also aim to fund major renovations at their Otsego County Education Center, 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown, including exterior rehabilitation and accessibility upgrades. For more information or to make a donation, visit givemv.org/organizations/cornell-cooperative-extension-of-herkimer-county.

Tough Week for Soccer Teams

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown girls soccer fell 5-1 to Frankfort-Schuyler in a non-division home game on Tuesday, September 9. Freshman Lanie Nelen scored the lone goal of the day late in the first half. The Hawkeyes lost 2-0 to West Canada Valley on Thursday, September 11. The rough streak continued with a 2-0 loss in a rematch with Frankfort-Schuyler on Monday, September 15. Cooperstown fell to 1-4 for the season and 1-0 in their division. They will host Webb after press time on Wednesday, September 17.

The boys team shut out Little Falls 5-0 on the road on Wednesday, September 10. Sophomores Henry Ayers and Beckett Grady each recorded a goal and an assist. Juniors Gavin Grady and Shane Bradley and senior Jameson Gable each scored, and junior Landon Seamon made an assist. Senior Cooper Coleman made one save in the net.

Cooperstown battled Utica Academy of Science to a double-overtime 0-0 draw at Utica’s Prospect Park on Friday, September 12. The Hawkeyes outshot their hosts 38-6 but could not overcome 18 saves by the UAS keeper. Coleman made two saves for Cooperstown.

The team lost 1-0 to Frankfort-Schuyler on a penalty kick with 90 seconds remaining in an overtime match on Saturday, September 13. Coleman made three saves and stopped a first-half penalty kick. Cooperstown moved to 2-1-1 for the season and will visit Westmoreland for their first division match of the year after press time on Tuesday, September 16.

CCS Football Trounces Clinton

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown football team rolled to a 40-7 victory over Clinton at home on Saturday, September 13. Senior Brenin Dempsey threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth. He made a touchdown throw to sophomore Parker McManus in the first quarter and two to senior Thomas Hellenthal in the second. McManus scored again on a 49-yard pass in the third quarter. Dempsey rushed for a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth and junior Caden Laymon rounded out the day with a 19-yard run. Sophomore Sawyer Bridger made two kicks and senior Ryan Ford made one. The Hawkeyes will visit South Lewis for a non-division game on Thursday, September 8.

Rotary Club Seeks Applicants

COOPERSTOWN—The Allocations Committee of the Rotary Club of Cooperstown will accept applications for the organization’s fall round of nonprofit funding through Thursday, September 25. Applications and criteria may be found at portal.clubrunner.ca/3556. Completed forms should be sent to tlbhinmanhollow@gmail.com or PO Box 993, Cooperstown 13326. After review, the committee will make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors in October.

Constitution Day Talk Planned

ONEONTA—Hartwick College’s annual Constitution Day Address will be delivered in the Shineman Chapel House at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 19, followed by a reception from 6-7. Geoffrey Corn ’83, the George R. Killam Jr. Chair of Criminal Law and director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law, will give a talk titled “Commander-in-Chief or Constitutional Overreach?” The event is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed.

Shock-toberfest Set To Return

ONEONTA—Film Otsego and Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center will present the 4th annual Shock-toberfest at 24 Market Street from 3-10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. The double headliner will be locally-made “Popeye the Slayer Man” at 6 p.m. and Metallica cover band “Obey Your Master” at 8 p.m. A block of six short horror films will be screened at 3 p.m., followed by “Hellbender,” a film made by Roscoe’s Poser-Adams family, at 4 p.m. There will be a horror festival in the Foothills atrium and parking lot, featuring axe throwing, food trucks, tarot, vendors, and more. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/Shocktoberfest25. For more information, follow @filmotsego and @foothills on Facebook and Instagram.

Pathfinder Art Show Is Saturday

EDMESTON—Pathfinder Village will present its second annual INSPIRE Art Gala from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, September 27. Staged at Pathfinder’s new “Dan’s Depot” community space, 2102 State Route 80, the exhibition will feature art by more than a dozen Pathfinder residents. Attendees can purchase framed artworks, meet the artists and tour the new facility. Pathfinder is an internationally recognized residential community for people with Down syndrome and related disabilities. For more information, visit pathfindervillage.org.

Shelter Offers $20 Adoptions

COOPERSTOWN—Susquehanna SPCA will participate in the community-wide Mohawk Valley Gives fundraising drive from September 15-19, including an offer of 1:1 matching funds up to $20,000.00 from the Staffworks Fund. To highlight the campaign, SQSPCA will offer $20.00 adoptions all week long. Prospective families may visit the shelter to meet adoptable animals and take advantage of the reduced fee from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on adoption, donation or volunteering, visit SQSPCA.org. To make a donation during Mohawk Valley Gives, visit givemv.org/organizations/susquehanna-spca.

FCO Announces Matching Grant

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Chamber Orchestra has received a $15,000.00 matching grant from an anonymous donor to expand its program of live orchestral music across Central New York. Every gift made through November 1 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000.00. For more information or to make a donation, visit fenimore-orchestra.org.

Arts Organizations Join MVG

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association and The Smithy Gallery and Clay Studio announced they will join the community-wide Mohawk Valley Gives fundraising campaign, open through 9 p.m. on Friday, September 19. They have goals of $1,500.00 and $1,000.00, respectively, to support their educational work. Visit givemv.org to make a donation.

RAG Schedules Workshops

WALTON—Roxbury Arts Group will hold a Target Market and Pricing Workshop for artists at William B. Ogden Free Library, 42 Gardiner Place in Walton, from 12-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23. This newest iteration of the group’s professional development classes for creatives will help local artists identify target audiences and sell their work. For more information or to register, visit roxburyartsgroup.org. RAG’s Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street in Stamford, will also host local fiber artist Annie Hayes for a five-session hooked rug making workshop from 5-8 p.m. on every Wednesday evening in October. All tools and materials are provided. The workshop is offered with tiered equity pricing ranging from $160.00-$275.00. Registration information is available on the website.

Community Plan Input Sought

COOPERSTOWN—The ongoing community effort to develop a comprehensive Otsego Lake Watershed Management Plan and consulting group Anchor QEA recently released an online survey to gather community feedback. Watershed Management Plan organizations, including SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station and the Otsego Watershed Supervisory Committee, need input on a variety of topics relevant to the watershed. The 15-minute online survey will help define a collective vision for shared land and water resources, and all watershed area residents are strongly encouraged to participate. It may be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/otsego9Eplan.

Mammals, Dean To Play WKC

EAST MEREDITH—The West Kortright Center will present a concert by The Mammals at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 10. Hailing from the Hudson Valley, the group consists of folksingers Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda, backed up by fiddle, banjo, guitar, organ, bass and percussion from a quintet of multi-instrumentalists. Tickets are $25.00 in advance, and there is a 10 percent discount for WKC members. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=291305. WKC will present folksinger Cranston Dean for its Second Sundays free concert series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 12. The free community concert will feature workshops, local art and food.

Responsible Gaming Month Set

ALBANY—New York State’s Responsible Play Partnership, Gaming Commission, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and the New York Council on Problem Gambling issued a joint statement recognizing September 2025 as Responsible Gaming Education Month. Devised by the American Gaming Association, an industry and lobbying group, the month is intended to promote gambling literacy and consumer education. The commission highlighted its new requirement that operators collect demographic data on patrons to facilitate targeted education and treatment resources. New York has the nation’s only blanket voluntary self-exclusion program, allowing individuals to bar themselves from all legal gaming facilities in the state.

Hunger Action Month Observed

ALBANY—New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball kicked off Hunger Action Month by highlighting the success of the Food Access Expansion Program. Announced earlier this summer by Governor Kathy Hochul, the initiative provided $10 million in grants to nine food access projects across the state. The projects, including development and expansion of supermarkets, cooperatives, farm stands, mobile markets, and other food retail sites, are intended to increase access to healthy local foods in underserved areas and provide new markets for New York farmers. Awards included $2.1 million for the City of Schenectady and $1.8 million for the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation. According to a report from the Office of the State Comptroller, about 10 percent of New Yorkers, or 800,000 households, experienced hunger or food insecurity between 2019 and 2021. In a release, Hochul drew attention to the recent “Big Beautiful” federal budget bill, which will result in an estimated 300,000 New York households losing some or all of their SNAP benefits. For more information, visit governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-137-million-awarded-19-farm-and-food-organizations-through-2024.

State Awards Ag Improvement Grants

ALBANY—The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced $8.5 million in grants to 69 farms, food processors, and distributors across the state through the New York State Grown and Certified Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Development grant program. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis to support equipment and infrastructure upgrades, bolstering state-of-the-art agriculture practices and expansion into new markets. For more information, visit certified.ny.gov.