Advertisement. Advertise with us

Sgt. Rick Yarosh, of Sweethearts & Heroes, will deliver a special address during the Richfield Springs CSD’s Annual Veterans Day Assembly for students in grades PK-12 on Friday, November 8. (Photo provided)

Purple Heart Recipient Brings HOPE to Richfield Students, Educators

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—As a meaningful prelude to Veterans Day, a Purple Heart recipient and nationally renowned motivational speaker will bring his amazing story and a strong message of HOPE to the Richfield Springs Central School District.

Sgt. Rick Yarosh, of Sweethearts & Heroes, will deliver a special address during the Richfield Springs CSD’s Annual Veterans Day Assembly for students in grades PK-12 on Friday, November 8.

Yarosh is a husband, father of two and retired U.S. Army sergeant from New York. He’s also an expert in HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist). He has toured the country as a motivational speaker—both solo and with Sweethearts & Heroes, a student empowerment and empathy activation program directed by Tom Murphy, of St. Albans, Vermont. For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heroes, which aims to prevent bullying and suicide, has made presentations to more than 2 million students, from New England to Hawaii.

You have reached your limit of 3 free articles

To Continue Reading

 

Our hard-copy and online publications cover the news of Otsego County by putting the community back into the newspaper. We are funded entirely by advertising and subscriptions. With your support, we continue to offer local, independent reporting that is not influenced by commercial or political ties.

Posted

Related Articles

In Memoriam: Jeff C. Seamon

Jeff C. Seamon, 63, of Richfield Springs, New York, passed away unexpectedly on January 23, 2026. Born March 8, 1962 in New Berlin, New York to Louis and Marie Seamon, he was the youngest son of nine children. He attended Richfield Springs Central School. Growing up on the family farm ignited his lifelong interest in agricultural and mechanical pursuits.…
January 30, 2026

Top Photos from Fall, Winter 2025

Since starting as a reporter here at AllOtsego in September 2025, I've had the chance to travel the county telling all kinds of stories. Along the way, I made photos of what I saw. Here are some of my favorites, some published and others shared here for the first time.…
January 28, 2026

Sheriff’s Office Called to Hartwick Meeting in First 10 Minutes

The Town of Hartwick’s town board organizational meeting the night of Monday, January 12 barely made it past the pledge of allegiance without incident. After a visit from two Otsego County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles with deputies speaking to opposing factions, the meeting proceeded with only a few raised voices over the following three hours...…
January 15, 2026

PUTTING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO THE NEWSPAPER

For a limited time, new annual subscriptions to the hard copy of “The Freeman’s Journal” or “Hometown Oneonta” (which also includes unlimited access to AllOtsego.com), or digital-only access to AllOtsego.com, can also give back to one of their favorite Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice: Friends of the Feral-TNR, Super Heroes Humane Society, or Susquehanna Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

Visit our “subscribe” page and select your charity of choice at checkout