Sharon Oberriter and volunteer Ian Robinson pack food boxes Monday afternoon at the Cooperstown Food Pantry. (AllOTSEGO.com photo) p.m.
COOPERSTOWN – To “minimize the contact between people” – and thereby lessen the chance of exposure to Coronavirus, the Cooperstown Food Pantry board of directors, meeting last evening, have cut back its hours to two days a week.
The food pantry at 25 Church St. will now be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., only on Mondays and Wednesdays, according to board member Audrey Murray.
BENEFIT LUNCH – Noon – 2 p.m. Support Cooperstown Food Pantry at Empty Bowls Luncheon. Pick a unique bowl by a local potter to enjoy lunch of soup by local chef. Suggested donation $15. Parish Hall, Christ Church, 69 Fair St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2627 or visit cooperstownfoodpantry.org
HELICOPTER – 5:30 p.m. Army Reserve & NY Army National Guard collaborate with Cooperstown Graduate Program for military exercise featuring UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landing at Bassett. Public is welcome to observe, tour once the aircraft are shut down. Please follow direction of military personnel to ensure a safe distance from the aircraft while it is in operation. Landing will be near Bassett Helipad, across from Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown.
FILM SOCIETY – 7 p.m. Cooperstown film society presents ‘Road To Perdition’ (2002) with special guest Rabbit Goody , textile historian/weaver, discussing her work on this & other films. Cooperstown Village Library, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. Visit www.facebook.com/FilmSocCoop/
BENEFIT CLASS –9 – 10 a.m. Enjoy restorative mixed style yoga class to benefit Cooperstown Food Pantry. All $10 suggested donations go to pantry. Registration requested. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. 607-547-2800, ext. 129 or visit www.facebook.com/clarksportscenter
Antoine Bourbon-Parme listens to Judge Burns’ remarks at this morning’s sentencing hearing. At left is defense lawyer Gar Gozigian. (James Cummings/AllOTSEGO.com)
By JAMES CUMMINGS • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – “From this day forward, you are a convicted felon and will be for the rest of your life.”
County Judge Brian Burns chides the convicted embezzler.
That was what county Judge Brian D. Burns told Antoine Bourbon-Parme, 59, as he was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge on a charge of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class U felony, for embezzling more than $18,000 from the Cooperstown Food Pantry. He was arrested last April 2.
“You took advantage of the organization’s trust and the public’s trust of that organization. Beyond that, you stole from some of the most needy and vulnerable members of our community,” said Burns.
“Literally stealing the money that would go to run a food pantry. It’s difficult to put into words your selfishness,” the judge said. ““We don’t know how far the ripples of your dishonesty will go in time.”
And Burns emphasized that the sentence did not necessarily match the deed.
HOLIDAY RUN – 10 a.m. Race through Cooperstown in your ugliest holiday sweater. Runners receive free coffee/hot chocolate upon completion. Registration 8:30 – 9:30. Cost, $25/individual. Start at Santa’s house, Pioneer Park, Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2800 or visit www.clarksportscenter.com/events/2019-rockin-around-cooperstown-ugly-sweater-runwalk/
HOLIDAY PARADE – 3 p.m. Celebrate the holidays on Main St. Line up at 3, parade at 4. Main St., Oneonta. Visit www.foothillspac.org
TREE FESTIVAL – 3 – 7 p.m. View Christmas Trees beautifully decorated by area individuals, businesses. Production Center, Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit www.foothillspac.org
TREE LIGHTING – 5:30 – 8 p.m. Celebrate the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Muller Plaza, Oneonta.
COOPERSTOWN – Antoine Bourbon-Parme, 59, the former director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry, has plead guilty to grand larceny, fourth degree, for stealing more than $18,000 from the organization, according to District Attorney John Muehl.
“Normally, if it was someone with no criminal history, I might have charged them with a misdemeanor if they agreed to pay restitution,” said Meuhl. “But because of who the victim was, I insisted on a felony. You don’t steal from the food pantry.”
COOPERSTOWN – Antoine Bourbon-Parme, the former director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry who was charged with stealing more than $18,000 from the organization, will plead guilty and pay back the full amount, District Attorney John Muehl said today.
“He’s never been convicted of a crime and he’s making a payment up front,” said Muehl. “That’s what’s keeping him out of jail.”
Bourbon-Parme, 59, was arrested in April after an investigation found he stole $18,579 from the organization’s accounts over 16 months., beginning in October 2017 and ending in late January.
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
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.
By LIBBY CUDMORE • The Freeman’s Journal & Hometown Oneonta
A printout from philly.com details previous allegations against the Cooperstown Food Pantry’s co-dirctor who is facing charges again.
COOPERSTOWN – An English accent, a boarding school education, ties to royalty and a background in high-end home decorating.
Antoine Bourbon-Parme
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.
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)
