Frank M. Van Auken, 102, passed away peacefully at Woodside Hall in Cooperstown, NY, on November 10, 2022, where he had lived since February 2018. Frank was born May 9, 1920, at his family home on Fassett Rd. in East Springfield, NY. He was the son of Olen Van Auken and Jennie Marks Van Auken. After graduating from East Springfield School, Frank enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, where he was stationed both stateside and in the European theater. Frank was the oldest living WWII veteran in Otsego County.
Frank married the love of his life, Laura Leadley, in Oswego, NY. Together they enjoyed traveling, playing cards, eating out, and hosting dinner parties. Frank served his community well. He was a volunteer fireman, a member of the local church, and a frequent flyer to K.C.’s Diner.
The Rules Are Clear, Says Proprietor,
But They Must Be Enforced Every Day
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Woodside Hall proprietor Stephen Cadwalader, left, and Administrator Joel Plue discuss anti-COVID strategies in the bright drawing room. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
‘When I was a child, a classmate was one of the last Americans to have polio,” said Woodside Hall proprietor Stephen Cadwalader. “What if COVID-19 is like polio? That’s what went through my mind.”
So here we are, a year since the coronavirus arrived – Governor Cuomo reported Tuesday was the anniversary of the first in-state COVID case – and not a single case has appeared at Woodside Hall, a nursing home in the imposing mansion at 1 Main St.
“I’m proud to say, we’re the only facility in the county not to test positive for COVID,” said Joel Plue, the home’s administrator since last September.
Asked to confirm that, county Public Health Director Heidi Bond concurred: The only one.
“We look at residents as an extension of our family,” said Plue, sitting in the bright drawing room across from the grand piano.
The home’s secret? It’s not so much a secret, it turns out, as rigorously applying generally accepted standards.
First, Plue continued, “we take care of our staff. If they arrive with even a sniffle, they’re sent home. They come back to work as soon as they test negative.”
COOPERSTOWN – Dr. Theodore Charles “Ted” Edmonds, 89, father of Bassett Hospital’s Dr. Lee Edmonds, passed away Thursday morning, Nov. 26, 2020, at Woodside Hall in Cooperstown following a long and valiant battle with a pervasive form of Parkinson’s disease.
He was born on May 24, 1931, in Erie, Pa., the son of Glenn M. Edmonds and Mildred (Bolyes) Edmonds. He was predeceased by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 63 years, Carol Adelaide (O’Brien) Edmonds.
Grace Kull, a former Cooperstown village trustee, retired to the Plains at Parish Homestead, Oneonta, before moving on to Woodside Hall.
This month marks the first anniversary of my move to Woodside Hall, One Main St., Cooperstown. Half of that time has been spent in lockdown due to the coronavirus. And oh my, has my
life changed!
In my 98 years, I have never been restricted in any way as to where I can go. Now the extent of my travelling is a few blocks to Bassett Hospital for doctor’s appointments.
However, if I have to be restricted, Woodside Hall is the place to be.
Karen Cadwalader and Stephen Cadwalader, owners and directors of Woodside Hall, have abided by all the rules and regulations to keep us safe.
Tape on the floor indicates spots six feet apart, where it is safe to stand or sit. Diners are seated six feet apart at mealtime. Masks are required to be worn if you are closer than six feet. All staff wear masks and have their temperature taken before they are admitted to the house and are routinely tested for COVID-19.
They are all cheerful and helpful and do everything and anything for us: Keeping our rooms clean, doing our laundry, helping with personal hygiene if required, giving meds, serving delightful meals prepared by our talented kitchen staff. I thank them all.
The most unhappy part was that, for six months, we could not have visitors inside, and had to visit through closed windows. That meant no physical contact with our families. That’s hard.
Barbara Sullivan, activities director, always has interesting activities planned for us, be it games, painting, crafts or discussion groups. And of course, BINGO.
Even I add to the “entertainment” by reading aloud from my two books of letters and Jim Atwell reads to us from his book about living in Fly Creek.
Mary Margaret Kuhn, besides planting and tending to the lovely gardens outside, leads interesting activities inside. She even brought a huge container of flowers from her home garden for us to arrange in vases to brighten tables around the house including our own rooms if we choose. Love it.
The biggest change in me over this time is in my appearance. I have always worn my hair quite short, but after six months with no haircut, my hair is down past my ears. When I look in the mirror, I see that famous portrait of George Washington with his white wig on. Do you know the one I mean?
I can’t wait for Doris Loiacona, who used to come in and keep us well coiffed, to be allowed in again so I can have a haircut and look like my own self again.
I also can’t wait for this whole pandemic to be over and for the world to be back to normal, if that will ever really be possible. I for one, doubt it. But it will be better. This too shall pass.
OOBLECK – 6 – 7:30 p.m. Celebrate birthday of Dr. Seuss and make the mysterious substance from the book ‘Bartholomew and the Oobleck.’ Learn about the strange properties of non-Newtonian fluids. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-432-1980 or visit www.facebook.com/hmloneonta/
FUNDRAISER – 5:30 – 8 p.m. Support Tracy Abrams to provide wigs to local community members who have lost their hair to chemotherapy. Enjoy Quarter Auction, food, drink, preview items. Partnered with 501c organization Wigs & Wishes. Oneonta Vets Club, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-287-4294 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaVetsClub
CHRISTMAS CAROL – 3 – 5 p.m. Theatrical performance of classic Charles Dickens Christmas story returns for 7th year running. Tickets, $15/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1453 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/stec_event/carol/0
CARNIVAL – 5 – 6 p.m. Bring the kids to enjoy annual Halloween Carnival followed by trick or treating through Residence Halls. Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta. 607-436-2514
COOPERSTOWN – Josephine A. Bertino, 89, who moved to Upstate New York in 2010 to be near her family, passed away peacefully Friday evening, Oct, 25, 2019, at Chase Memorial Nursing Home & Rehab in New Berlin.
She was born July 23, 1930, in Brooklyn, the only child of Peter Fatta, a Sicilian immigrant, and Rose (Rosalia) née Lucido Fatta. During her teen years she played piano at Carnegie Hall and developed a deep interest and love of music. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School, where Julius LaRosa was one of her classmates.
PERFORMANCE – 7 – 10 p.m. Support Emergency Shelter program by Opportunities for Otsego while enjoying evening of music by Steve Fabrizio Band. Features light hors d’oeuvres, raffles, cash bar. Cost, $25 at door. B Side Ballroom, 1 Clinton Plaza Dr., Oneonta. 607-433-8000 or visit www.facebook.com/ofoinc/
COMMUNITY PROGRAM – 6:30 p.m. Learn about the raptors of Central New York with Charlie Scheim of the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-0600, ext. 102 or visit www.facebook.com/Woodside.Hall/
COMMUNITY PROGRAM – 2 p.m. Program Director for Otsego County Conservation Association Jeff O’Handley presents “Invaders from… Earth?” On efforts by OCCA to combat/control spread of invasive species in Otsego County. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-0600 Ext. 102 or visit www.facebook.com/Woodside.Hall/
CRUISE-IN CAR SHOW – 5:30 – 7 p.m. Enjoy ice cream, music, horse powered wagon rides, as well as Kyle Busch’s M&M’s #18 NASCAR Show Car, restored vintage cards, muscle cars, street rods from car enthusiasts. Pathfinder Village, 3 Chenango Rd., Edmeston. 607-965-8377 or visit pathfindervillage.org
COMMUNITY PROGRAM – 6:30 p.m. Join The Gathering Place for toe tapping fun with ‘Ah Coopella’ performing vocal music in variety of genres. Refreshments to follow. Free, open to public. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-0600 ext. 101 or visit www.facebook.com/Woodside.Hall/
