Ahlqvist, Austin Cudmore Expand Newpapers’ Reach

Seeking to expand its service to the Otsego County community, Hometown Oneonta & The Freeman’s Journal this week adds a sports editor, photographer and reporter to its editorial effort.
They are Eric Ahlqvist, Ian Austin and Libby Cudmore respectively.
“Without community support, this simply wouldn’t have been possible,” said Bill Reeves, Hometown Oneonta publisher.
“We thank Cooperstown for its enduring commitment to one of the country’s oldest newspapers, and Oneonta for embracing one of the youngest,” added Jim Kevlin, editor of both papers and Freeman’s Journal publisher.
Eric Ahlqvist, after graduating from Hartwick College in 1990, worked for the Daily Star and Cooperstown Crier until February.  During his tenure with the newspapers, he won five New York State Press Association Awards for sports writing.
He has been a familiar presence on both the Oneonta and Cooperstown sports scenes, and has wide experience in covering local sports.
He lives in Laurens with his wife, Kelly, and daughter, Emily.
Ian Austin is a Oneonta artist, illustrator and photographer.  As a working artist, Ian has painted sets for The Oneonta Stage Players, Orpheus Theater and the SUNY Oneonta Theater Department, contributed drawings to the O-Town Scene, freelanced for the Daily Star and still finds time to manage the Oneonta Teen Center. 
He is a graduate of Sage college at Albany and The School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he studied graphic design and illustration.
Ian has been freelancing for Hometown Oneonta since he was observed climbing onto a roof to get pictures during the initial Bresees’ demolition.
Libby Cudmore’s stories and essays have been published in PANK, KneeJerk, The Postcard Press, Connotation Press, The Yalobusha Review, the MacGuffin, Criminal Class Review, The Midnight Diner (where she is also an editor) Crime Factory, Celebrities in Disgrace, Xenith and many other magazines.  
She was Long Story Short’s Author of the Year in 2004, wrote The Subway Chronicles Essay of the Year in 2004, was a 2005 Finalist for the Writers of the Future Award, a 2009 Bullet Award winner and a 2010 Derringer Award Finalist.
She attended Binghamton University.
Libby and Ian live in Oneonta with Bosco, The World’s Cutest Kitten.

Where’s Henry?

JENNIFER WALSH - OTHER VOICES

Editor’s Note:  “Where’s Henry?” by Jennifer Walsh was the winner of LEAF Inc’ poetry slam Friday, April 29, at UCCCA.

A loving mother,
the true definition of the word
a medic in the Air Force,
A conservative follower of our Lord
•
Full of beauty and honor,
Gambling her only vice!!!
It wasn’t until now I saw that gambling was her life…
•
Last year cancer stole her
From her kids and grandbabies
It’s strange how now after
I really learned of her disease
•
I remember coming home
to presents on our beds
I never thought how she got them
I was only a kid
•
As I grew older
my mind still naïve
She’d start sharing her secret
A new side of her I would see
•
OTB’s, tables, and games
This was how our surprises were won
Now I know what to blame,
For how she had become
•
We took trips to Turning Stone.
Starting out as so much fun.
The food, the luxury, and happiness,
But only if she won!!!
•
Jealously would strike her
as others nearby would win.
“I wanted that machine.”
As she punched in her pin.
•
Her fingers danced across the screen And she changed the lucky numbers.
“It helps my chances, you’ll see.”
As she awaited the result of the tumblers
•
$300 dollars she’d win
Thrice what she brought
She’d dwindle it down
Saying, “Just hold my spot!”
•
She’d check her accounts
No more funds to bet
A quick call to her husband
Would settle that debt
•
To her chair she’d return,
Sending us off to eat,
“I will meet you there soon,
If I leave now, I’m beat.”
•
Her temper would rise
as her money would fall
If we asked when we were leaving
The loss was OUR fault!
•
I remember her always saying,
“Just a little while longer,
I need to keep playing!”
In the van we could slumber
•
We’d be there til 1,
Sometimes 2 or 3.
We’d wish she were done,
We had school the next day!
•

I remember the good times
The times that she won
But mostly she would lose it all
And swear she were DONE
•
One time she promised
No more gambling, no frowns.
I was so proud of her
Until she confessed of Vernon Downs
•
The last weekend of her life
She requested a gambling trip
I was hesitant to take her
But it was for Isabel’s crib
•
So delicate and fragile,
She could not even walk
She finally shared a meal with me
By the end of the week she was gone.
•
She’d say she was sorry
For the money she’d lost
Call herself a loser
All this pain, at what cost?
•
Gambling would take her
From mother to monster
The things that she would say to us
While gambling we lost her
•
It seemed like she’d blackout
Once finished she’d return
The image and words stuck with us though
In our hearts and minds forever burned

•

She held the reigns
To forfeit her guilt
To overpower the pain
She just needed to quit!

•

So many memories of her,
Of her love, so pure and pristine.
But one that stands out the most
Is her and that damn “Where’s Henry” machine…

Please, Get Rid Of Those Absurb Prison Uniforms

If nothing else good comes out of the Anthony Pacherille case, can we at least get rid of those anachronistic black-and-white striped uniforms the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department reintroduced with the election of Sheriff Rich Devlin?
They are ridiculous and heart-sinking at the same time, bringing to mind both Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and mistreatment of prisoners, many black, in the Jim Crow South.
Previously, county inmates wore bright orange jumpsuits with “inmate” clearly marked on the back.  No one was in danger of mistaking anyone of them for Scouts.
Anyone of us who aspires to see Otsego County as a buoyant, forward-looking, problem-solving community must cringe every time a striped and shackled crew comes into view.
Most county jail inmates are local people, shorttermers who will be back among us in a few months.  Treating them with respect and consideration certainly is a more successful strategy then demeaning and humiliating them.
Let’s get with the 21st Century.

The poster from a Paul Muni movie from 1932 shows the black-and-white striped uniforms, the common garb for chain gangs in the South.

Amanda Hoepker/The Freeman’s Journal
Almost 80 years later, Anthony Pacherille and another inmate in the same black-and-white when led into Otsego County Court Friday, April 29.

THE SPORTS BEAT

IN THE HALL OF HEROES

Amanda Hoepker/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Bert Blyleven, who with Roberto Alomar will be one of two players inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at the end of July, made his orientation visit to Cooperstown Tuesday, May 3, to get prepped for the event.  Walking through the Hall of Plaques gave him “goosebumps,” the former pitching standout said.  Born in the Netherlands, he will be the “first Dutchman” in the Hall.

Outlaw Manager Returns For Year 2
The Oneonta Outlaws (NYCBL) have announced manager Greg Zackrison will return to lead the team in 2011 after guiding the Outlaws to a second best league record of 26-16, including a league best 18-4 at home and playoffs in 2010.
Zackrison also coached the Saratoga Phillies to a third place finish and playoffs in 2009 before the team’s relocation to Oneonta. Greg is presently an assistant coach at Massasoit Community College in Brockton Massachusetts.
Outlaws Co-Owner and Managing Partner Keith Rogers said, “Greg’s a leader and has the rare ability to get the most out of his players while keeping a fun, loose clubhouse.’’
The season begins in June.

Second Hartwick Hill Race Is Here
The second annual Hartwick Hill Race will be Saturday, May 7.
The Family Resource Network and the Hartwick College Fellowship of Christian Athletes have organized the race for the second year. Registration begins at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Saxton Hall and the race begins at noon.
The route is from the base of the Hartwick College campus to Elmore Field at the top, where the Hartwick College men’s and women’s soccer teams will be hosting the EDD Fund Soccer Clinic for individuals with disabilities from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Registration fee, $10. The fee for the Caterpillar Race (a team of four which runs the race tied together) is $40.  There are prizes for first, second and third place. There will also be a prize for the individual or team with the most spirit, inspired by last year’s Hobart Fire Department Bagpipers, who ran the race in their kilts.  An ice-cream social follows.
To pre-register, visit www.familyrn.org, call 432-0001 or e-mail familyrn@gmail.com.

Hamm SUNY Oneonta Athlete of Week
Edmeston graduate and Oneonta State freshman Kori Hamm was named the school’s Athlete of the Week for the week ending May 1.
Hamm placed second in the triple jump for the women’s track and field team at the Lion’s Invitational hosted by the College of New Jersey this past Saturday.
Her hop, skip and jump of 37.27 feet automatically qualifies her for SUNYAC’s, ECAC’s and the NCAA provisional list. It was also her personal best on the 2011 outdoor season.

E-mail items for The Sports Beat to Eric Ahlqvist at eahlqvist@hotmail.com

OHS’ O’Connor, Gollin Expected To Shine At Don Howard Invitational

By ERIC AHLQVIST - Sports Editor

With star power in Christie O’Connor and Beth Gollin, and balance throughout the team, head coach Dave Forbes and the Oneonta girls track team have their sights set on a second straight Don Howard Cooperstown Invitational title Saturday, May 7.
“Our goal is to win,” said Forbes. “I think we can balance our events well enough to score and win the title.”
The Yellowjackets boast two athletes who have posted section-best times this season in O’Connor and Gollin.
O’Connor’s 5-4 in the high jump is the area’s best, and Gollin, a five-year runner, has posted area-best times in both the 2,000 steeplechase and 3,000. Gollin has the area’s second-best time in the 400 hurdles.
Forbes said O’Connor suffered an injury in practice last week, but is expected to compete on Saturday. Cooperstown’s Lucy Ford (5-2) and Oneonta’s Brittnay Herrick (5-0) should give O’Connor competition. 
Gollin and O’Connor are two of just five seniors on the team of 35 this season.
Juniors Jenn Jelic (high hurdles, sprints) and Lauren Ward (400, sprints) are ones to watch, Forbes said, along with fellow junior Kim Scofield in the triple jump. Senior Kayleigh Ward is also a threat in the discus, Forbes said.
The Oneonta boys’ team lost 12 seniors to graduation, and most of this year’s team is comprised of freshman and sophomores, said fourth-year head coach Brady Cotter, a 1997 Milford graduate.
OHS senior Zach Rabeler and Cooperstown’s Will Reis could have the race of the day in the 800. Reis has recorded the best 800 time this season, but Rabeler is just one second behind.
“That should definitely be a race that should get the fans out of their seats,” said Cooperstown track coach Joe Kennedy.   
Cotter said junior Levi Anderson posted a personal best in the 1,600 at a meet last Friday, and freshmen Wendell lee and Mat Robinson “keep surprising him” in the sprint events.
The Yellowjackets are one of 11 teams scheduled to compete at the meet, which begins at 2 p.m. Host Cooperstown is the heavy favorite to win the title, paced by senior Alec Silvera, who won a gold medal in the 110 hurdles at last year’s state meet.
The Redskins won 12 of 17 events last season and amassed over 200 points in winning the title.
“It will be good for us to see that type of competition,” Cotter said. “This is when the season really gets going.”
Oneonta will host its own Invitational beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, May 6.

PEANUTS AND CRACKERS

Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Dylan Wade, Bradley Jacobs, Dayne Bissel-Smith, Ryan Miller, Logan Monroe and Reisen Sheldon of the 6th Ward Athletic Club sprint across Doc Knapp Field as their team was introduced on Saturday, May 2, during the opening day ceremonies.

Oneonta Little League teams line up on the third-base line at Doc Knapp Field as each team and its players are introduced to a crowd of families and fans Saturday, April 30, during opening day ceremonies.

Pals on the Royal Group team watch the festivities.  From left, they are Matt Searo, Jordan Goble, Brandon Gregory and Tyler Bruce of Oneonta.

Kiraki Gillespie (of the Police team) holds her sister Nolana Gillespie (of the Benson Agency team,  named after Nolan Ryan) after opening ceremonies.

For more pictures visit our facebook album -- Little League, 2011

Is Dog-Fight Ring Operating Locally?

To the Editor:
 My Rottweiler Titan has been missing for the last seven months from Davenport Center. Maybe you have seen the billboard on Roue 7 outside  Oneonta.
While searching for my dog, I discovered a nasty rumor in my town that he was stolen by someone who fights dogs.
At first I thought it was a mean joke of some kind. But I started asking anyone I spoke with if they had ever heard of anything and I believe there really is a dog-fighting ring operating in our area. There is really no way to find these people other than anonymous tips.
I would like your paper to do an article about dog fighting. How to notice the signs, why people should care and how to take action.
The Humane Society of the United States has some good information as do ASPCA reporters.
SUE SWART
Davenport Center