Nate Johnson, Nate Tessitore and Dylan Babcock are among the subjects of Heminway’s WOFD photojournal. (Photo by August Heminway)
By TED MEBUST ONEONTA
August Heminway, a SUNY Oneonta senior currently pursuing a degree in political science and criminal justice, recently introduced an individual photojournalism project documenting the West Oneonta Fire Department. In addition to his extracurricular activities as president of the college’s Taekwondo Club, Heminway serves as president of the Photo Society. The scope of his project, Heminway noted, combined his academic and personal interests to display an aspect of local life he found to be underrepresented.
COOPERSTOWN—On Sunday, December 4, starting at 1 pm, Badger Park in the Village of Cooperstown will come alive with volunteers laying down a new liner for the ice-skating rink. “We are so excited that we were able to buy a new liner for the rink,” said Tom Hohensee, president of the Cooperstown Friends of the Parks.
“We are a non-profit organization that supports all of Cooperstown’s unique public parks; we depend on volunteers and donations.” Volunteers are needed all of the time, but particularly this weekend when the group lays down the rink lining. “It’s a big job, many hands are needed,” Hohensee said. “Plus it’s a lot of fun to get out and volunteer with your neighbors.”
Standing in front of the new Cargo Net, these volunteers made it happen in Cherry Valley. L to R front row: Paige Thayer, Spencer Thayer, Zola Palmer, Angelica Palmer, Baily Thayer, Tucker Cornelia. L to R back row: Lyman Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Nancy Beale, Therijo Snyder, Nathan Emery, Marc-Anthony Polizzi, Ruth Doell, Jim Johnson, Ginger Thayer, Alzina Johnson, Dennis Doell, DJ Cornelia, Ashlee Cornelia.
A project that was started almost three years ago, the Cherry Valley Playground was completed this past weekend. It is finally ready to accept kids of all ages to come play!
It all began when two young ladies who are part of the Cherry Valley Girls Scout Troop wanted to get their Bronze Award. “You have to complete a journey in order to get a bronze award,” Zola Palmer, 11, said. “We had to think about what would make our community better. We had to figure out an active community service.”
“We really wanted to do something that would draw people to our community, since we’re so small,” Bailey Thayer, 12, said. “We thought if we made a playground, more people would come and visit Cherry Valley.”
Staffing challenges notwithstanding, Oneonta’s YMCA and the City of Oneonta will partner again this year to provide summer programming and services for area youth eager for activity.
“The Y’s core mission is to find solutions to community problems,” said YMCA Executive Director Frank Russo. “This summer, like every summer before it, we will work to the best of our capabilities to provide whatever services we can.”
“We will offer our summer programs in some way, shape, or form,” he said. “I like to say it will be ‘similar but different.’ We intend to have the swimming pool operating. The community is very quick to be worried that there will be nothing to do this summer, but that’s not the case. That’s not to say that we don’t need employees and volunteers — we’re just like any business facing a shortage these days.”
“This is not a money issue for us,” he said, noting the Oneonta Y’s competitive wages and opportunities. “We’re losing some of our past collaborative partners because their own programs have suffered. Everybody is feeling the pinch.”
In his online Weekly Report for April 16, Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek addressed the need for volunteers who can keep city programs alive.
What better time than the middle of National Volunteer Week (April 17 – 24) to take the time to salute every person who gives their time — truly our most precious commodity — to help others.
The Freeman’s Journal/Hometown Oneonta receives a few dozen press releases each week from community groups of every stripe throughout Otsego County — organizations looking out for the environment, preserving open spaces, grooming hiking trails. Groups dedicated to keeping political discourse at a civil level, encouraging citizens to vote and participate in democracy. Programs to feed the hungry, help the homeless, save and protect animals. Perform for and promote local arts and artists, help out in the schools, decorate village streets for holidays, coach Little League and soccer and basketball.
And almost as an aside, such announcements usually include some semblance of this proud statement: “[insert name] is an all-volunteer organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.”
Board of Education, town, and village governments, too, run on volunteer steam: these board members, supervisors, mayors, trustees, legislators, committee members, and appointees aren’t in it for the big paycheck. We’re humbled when imagining the amount of time and dedication these volunteers devote to a sometimes thankless task, serving a public that can be quick to judge and criticize yet take for granted the day-to-day quality of life that these volunteers make possible.
Monday night’s surprise ‘Noreaster was on no one’s wish list and it left a lot of damage throughout Otsego County leaving more than 18,000 without electricity. With outages lasting up to 72 hours, the county’s Office of Emergency Services opened two emergency shelters and prepared dry ice and water distribution centers. On Chestnut Street in the Village of Cooperstown, employees had an early start to their Tuesday morning. “We came in around 4 a.m. There was so much snow and so many trees and branches down, that’s all we’ve been dealing with,” said Lloyd Stillson, left. “It looks like we will be picking up branches and moving snow for the rest of the day,” added Tylar Thayer, right.
Peter Deysenroth, president of Cooperstown Lions Club, held a public interest gathering at Upstate Bar and Grill on Saturday, April 2. Winter Carnival 2023 was discussed, particularly the need for volunteers and committee members. The meeting was a success; more than 20 people attended and nine agreed to be on committee’s. Winter Carnival 2023 is now a reality! If you are interested in getting involved, contact Mr. Deysenroth at peterdeysenroth@hotmail.com.
Helios Care is celebrating and honoring the valuable and heartfelt commitment of our wonderful volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
Even when a person is dying, there can be a lot of living to do. Hospice makes it possible by bringing care, compassion, and hope to patients and families facing life-limiting illness. Volunteers are a vital part of this special care: 224 trained volunteers support our local communities during patients’ end-of-life journey and make the mission of Helios Care possible.
Whether a volunteer is serving at the bedside, honoring a veteran, assisting in the office, helping in the thrift shop, or assisting with events, they are the heart of our hospice. We would like to thank all of our volunteers for their unwavering support and generosity. This week and throughout the year, we honor and celebrate our outstanding volunteers.
TAMMY CHRISTMAN
Helios, Director of Community Outreach
TRACTOR FEST – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. See Over 60 tractors and machines they powered on NYS farms. Features classic, small engine, more. Famers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/Tractor-Fest
Joyce Powell, left, of First United Methodist Church in Oneonta, oversees SUNY volunteers Vivian Tan, Thibaud Sorci and Sarah Bradshaw who were helping mulch the front gardens as part of the annual Into The Streets event. Students worked at many locations across the town helping locals to clean, organize, landscape, paint and more as part of their day of service. Out thanks go out to them for all their work! (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
SUNY Oneonta student Jessica Levy, Into The Streets coordinatoe, presents event T-shirts to Common Council member Michelle Osterhoudt, Fourth Ward, before the start of the Common Council meeting this evening. Levy invited Council members to join students in cleaning up downtown on Saturday, April 30. In addition to Osterhoudt, Council members Joe Ficano, Eighth Ward, John Rafter, Seventh Ward, and Melissa Nicosia, Second Ward, accepted. “When I came to school here, I wanted Oneonta to to feel like a community to me,” said Levy. “I was able to get that through volunteering. I love it so much I want to share that love with you all.” Mayor Gary Herzig commended Levy, saying, “We love having you here and are so appreciative of your work.” (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
