ONEONTA—State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited SUNY Oneonta on Thursday, February 16 to meet with students, faculty, staff, and community leaders and learn more about programs that support student success, research, economic growth, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
ONEONTA—Meet Daisy. She is a 6-month-old Bernese mountain dog and new to Oneonta. According to mom Madison Rivera, “She’s been loving the snow and is the sweetest pup!” We invite you to send pictures of your furry, feathered or finned friends to darlay@allotsego.com. Every week, we’ll select at least one photograph to be highlighted in the newspapers and, later this week, we’ll be launching our new online “Furever Friends and Purrfect Pets” photo gallery, in honor of the important role animals play in our lives. Photo provided
SYRACUSE—The number two-seeded Cooperstown girls basketball team secured a Section III Class C title on Saturday, March 4, beating top-seeded Weedsport by a score of 64-59 at Onondaga Community College. While Weedsport enjoyed a 21-point surge in the second quarter, the Hawkeyes paced themselves, racking up 15, 15, 16 and 18 points in the quarters to ensure the win. This Saturday, March 11, Cooperstown (19-5) will play Section IV Class C champ Union Springs (23-0) at noon in Binghamton for a Central Region title.
OTSEGO COUNTY—To support the goals of New York State’s Climate Smart Communities program, Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties is offering a 12-week online Climate Stewards Volunteer Training. Cornell Climate Stewards Volunteers will receive comprehensive training on climate change science, while also learning about how to plan and implement solutions in local communities.
The Cornell Climate Stewards training program covers topics such as climate science, impacts, mitigation, adaptation, public communication, interacting with local and state government, creating and planning local projects, and climate justice. Volunteers will also learn how to develop and organize community projects, write grants, and much more. Participants will become part of a growing community of trained Cornell Climate Steward volunteers who meet to share ideas, network and support local Climate Smart Community efforts.
The upcoming Cornell Climate Stewards training will be held via Zoom from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday evenings beginning on March 23 and ending on June 8. In addition to the online training, Climate Steward trainees will also have opportunities to participate in in-person programs and activities to advance the goals of Climate Smart Communities in Schoharie and Otsego counties.
Apply to become a certified CCE Climate Stewards volunteer today. There is a registration fee of $25, and scholarships are available. For more information, or to apply, visit www.cceschoharie-otsego.org or contact Liz Callahan at (607) 547-2536, extension 233.
COOPERSTOWN—Miss Puggles enjoys a walk along Willow Brook. Miss Puggles is 12 years old. She is a retired therapy dog owned by Brian and Kathy Clancy. Adopted from the Susquehanna SPCA when she was about 4 months old, Miss Puggles is reportedly a very happy dog who loves everyone she meets, treats, and her mom and dad. We invite you to send pictures of your furry, feathered or finned friends to darlay@allotsego.com. Every week, we’ll select at least one photograph to be highlighted in the newspapers. Photo by Richard Clancy
CARNIVAL CAPERS
Mary Margaret Kuhn, top, enjoys a stop at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market during Winter Carnival 2023. Above, Winter Carnival Committee members Claire Kepner and Caspar Ewig, Iron String Press contributing writer, check diners in at the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. The Winter Carnival returned this year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos by Molly Seidl
The Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association recently held its Introduction to Beekeeping class at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. Thirty-five enthusiastic attendees were treated to a wide variety of beekeeping topics. The LBA is a local group of primarily backyard beekeepers dedicated to responsible, healthy beekeeping. Our activities include educational programs, social events, outreach programs, lending of equipment and mentoring. Established in 2015, the organization has included members from Otsego County and beyond. Our numbers include anyone from Master Beekeepers to “new-bees.”
On March 1, the Otsego County Board of Representatives stood up for their constituents in what could be an historic vote. In a welcome show of solidarity, the board voted unanimously to oppose key provisions of Governor Hochul’s proposed New York State budget for 2024, which would concentrate state power at local expense while trampling our constitutional right to home rule. This newspaper, reflecting public concern over this issue, has in effect endorsed the County Board’s action by calling for the need to reaffirm home rule as defined in Article IX of the state constitution.
Over the last couple of weeks, two well-known public figures have selected to seek hospice services. One is former President Jimmy Carter and the other actor Tom Sizemore. Sadly, Tom Sizemore just died with a relatively short hospice stay, while President Carter remains on hospice. We at Helios Care believe that the longer one is on hospice, up to six months or more, the greater the benefits of the multidisciplinary approach to the patient and the family. We provide nursing, social workers, chaplains, and home health aides to support patient and family, as well as bereavement support for the family following the passing of their loved one.
Among the myriad annoying swirls of disaffection, rage, frustration and division in this country, the years-long massive popular and political debate over abolishing daylight saving, or abolishing standard, times—and then adopting either as standard—should be a mere minor tremor. But this particular time war, which was in fact first developed by the Germans in World War I (and abolished right after it) has been raging across the country, as well as across Europe and Great Britain, for nearly a decade, and it is not going to stop until a decision is made. And then, of course, as have been several cases in the past, that decision may not even hold.