LEGENDS GAME – 1:05 p.m. The 11th annual Hall of Fame Classic 7-inning game w/6 HOF legends & players from all-30 MLB teams will play 7-inning game. Tickets $11-12.50. Pregame Home Run Derby at noon. Doubleday Field. Info, 607-207-9519, www.BaseballHall.org
To the Editor:
The Cooperstown Food Pantry serves more than 200 families a month, averaging 800 people. With over 100 volunteers and one full time Director, we are committed to serving those who face food insecurity and are in need.
Recently, during routine cost evaluations, we discovered that fraudulent financial activities had been engaged in by a staff volunteer. Thankfully our financial checks caught the issue. This led to an investigation by the District Attorney’s office. The volunteer has been arrested and charged and we will let the justice system manage the case and eventual outcome.
The Cooperstown Food Pantry appreciates and depends on the generosity and trust of our donors and volunteers. Every dollar donated to the Food Pantry goes to serve those families in need.
Although the loss incurred was not insubstantial, we remain in strong financial shape and this does not affect our mission or our ability to carry on normal operations.
We continue to focus our efforts on providing the best possible healthy and nutritious food to our neighbors in northern Otsego County. We are open Monday-Friday 10-4, and Saturdays from 10-noon.
STACEY SMITH
Director, Cooperstown Food Pantry
By LIBBY CUDMORE • The Freeman’s Journal & Hometown Oneonta
COOPERSTOWN – An English accent, a boarding school education, ties to royalty and a background in high-end home decorating.
These were the lies Antoine Bourbon-Parme – also known as Anthony Cazzari – allegedly told around town.
“He had everyone believing he was from England,” said District Attorney John Muehl. “He grew up in Putnam County.”
On Tuesday, April 2, Bourbon-Parme, 59, the former co-director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry, was charged with stealing $18,579 from the organization’s bank accounts over 16 months, beginning in October 2017 and ending in late January, by forging the signatures of Audrey Murray, retired director; Stacey Smith, director, and Sharon Oberriter, president, the only people with access to the account.
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – The former co-director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry was arraigned at 12:30 p.m. today in Otsego Town Court, charged with stealing more than $18,000 from the organization.
Antoine Bourbon-Parme, also known as Anthony Cazzari, was sent to Otsego County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond by Town Justice Gary Kuch.
According to the court documents, Bourbon-Parme forged the names of Audrey Murray, retired director, Stacey Smith, director, and Sharon Oberriter, president, on eight checks, beginning in October 2017. The last check, dated Jan. 22, was for $1,852.38.
Bowls and soup were going fast as over 180 people in the first half hour streamed through the doors of the Christ Church in Cooperstown for the annual Empty Bowls event which benefits the local food pantry. Hungry crowds came to try the many different soups offered by 10 area restaurants and seven individuals who in all created over 40 gallons of soup. Above, Amy Zoltick serves a bowl of curried butternut squash soup with wild rice edamame to Stephanie Adams. At right, event organizer Kathy Chase enlists helps from Diane Detrinis, to refill a crockpot with her Thai chicken and rice soup. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
MEET AND GREET – 12-2 p.m. “Pawsitive Pawsibilities at the Y” aims to connect new families with companion animals from the Susquehanna SPCA. YMCA lobby, 20-26 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Info, (607) 547-8111.
COOPERSTOWN – With February SNAP benefits being issued early, the Cooperstown Food Pantry is reminding families that those benefits must last through February.
However, the Cooperstown Food Pantry is open 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at 25 Church St., and are open to anyone in need of emergency feeding assistance.
Information, call 547-8902 or visit www.cooperstownfoodpantry.org.
MUSICAL MADNESS – 10 a.m. – Noon. Musical activities for children aged 2-8 includes an instrument “petting zoo,” music technology, crafts, a dance room, a percussion room. Hartwick students to perform an interactive concert at Noon. Anderson Center, 2nd floor, Hartwick College. Call 607-431-8543 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaWorldofLearning/
FUNDRAISER – Noon – 2 p.m. p.m. Empty Bowls Luncheon features soup, bread, handmade bowl that you can keep, raffle. Benefits the Cooperstown Food Pantry. Cost, $15 donation. Christ Church, 69 Fair St., Cooperstown. Call 607-547-2627 or visit cooperstownfoodpantry.org
Showing off their acquisitions at today’s Empty Bowls Luncheon, a fundraiser for the Cooperstown Food Pantry, are, from left, Hany and Jill Ghaleb, Kate Kamker and Kaaren Fox. At of 1 p.m., 299 soup seekers had bought tickets (which gets each of them an original bowl and soup to fill it), already a record. In all, 350 bowls had been produced this year. At right, Cooperstown’s Amy Zoltick has an air of authority as she, Leslie Breiten and Donna Mackie distributed the offerings. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
