Opinion: Tips for Talking with Your Partner About Money

  

 

Money can often be a hard topic to bridge if you’re in a relationship. Depending on your financial situation, values and experiences with money, you and your spouse or significant other may not always be on the same page when it comes to spending, saving and investing. In some cases, this disconnect may even be a source of tension between partners.

 

As a financial advisor who has worked with hundreds of couples, I want you to know that communication is key – and it usually gets easier with practice. If you’ve found yourself avoiding the subject of money with your spouse or partner, keep these tips in mind to open up a productive and ongoing conversation that will help you work toward your shared goals for the future.

 

Prioritize putting a plan in place. Make it a priority to discuss the important financial aspects of your lives and put a financial and estate plan in place. If you’ve put planning on the back burner, you’re not alone. The Ameriprise Couples, Money & Retirement study found that over half (52%) of couples surveyed did not have an estate plan, and 41% did not have a financial plan in place. Delaying the conversation can impede future goals and your ability to navigate potential unexpected situations.

 

To get started, pick a mutually agreed upon time to sit down when you can be free of distractions. Set an agenda to cover topics such as budgeting, goals, roadblocks and opportunities. Discuss what next steps for cementing a plan might be. 

 

Respect your histories. Each person’s relationship to money is very personal. For example, some individuals who grew up with limited financial resources may adopt a scarcity mindset to protect themselves. For these individuals and others, spending may cause anxiety. On the other side of the coin, if you never had to worry about money, you may not have learned how to set limits on yourself. Self-awareness paves the way to change, just as sharing these insights with one another can enable accountability and understanding.

 

Be honest about financial mistakes. Share your financial challenges, or where you may have fallen short of your goals and any lessons learned. Maybe you missed a payment deadline. Or you are procrastinating meeting with a tax attorney. In any case, it’s not unusual to make financial missteps now and again. Just as honesty is critical to your relationship, it’s also key to avoiding future costly errors. 

 

Review your financial goals and priorities. What do you want to accomplish financially? Has anything changed over time? Buying a house, starting a family, sending kids to private school or college, opting for early retirement—these are the kinds of life goals that require active financial resolve and alignment with your partner. As a starting point, communicate openly about your dreams for the future and desired timeframes. If the conversation seems daunting, take heart in the fact that Ameriprise’s recent research revealed that 91% of couples surveyed say they share the same financial values. When you’re both invested in the outcome, you can support and motivate one another to reach your goals.

 

Work with a financial advisor. Whether you’ve already found financial harmony or want help blending your different perspectives, a financial advisor can help you increase communication and develop a plan to reach your goals. In fact, the Ameriprise research study found that 97% of couples that work with an advisor have identified ways their advisors have improved their financial wellbeing. Make it a priority to meet with or find your financial advisor together, so both of you have equal opportunity to ask questions and be involved in any decisions about your future. Find an advisor to be on your team as you work toward achieving a lifetime of financial happiness.

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Michael D. Lanuto, CRPC®, AWMA® is a Financial Advisor with S.M. Miller & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Albany, NY.  He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 9 years. To contact him: 518-949-2039; 4 Atrium Drive, Ste 200, Albany, NY, 12205; Michael.Lanuto@ampf.com; https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/michael.lanuto/lp/request-contact/3/. 

Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation.    

 

File # AMP6217010.3- (Approved until 7/31/2026)

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“Generic” School Threats On The Rise

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - During the latest CRCS Board of Education meeting last Monday, members discussed the prevalence of “generic social media threats” and how that might be perceived by students.

Superintendent Matthew Sickles opened his report by stating that there is a disturbing upward trend of these kinds of threats, not just in the immediate region, but across the nation.

Taking to an online platform to speak under an anonymous voice, these perpetrators do not target one institution in particular, but rather speak about “school” more generally. According to Superintendent Sickles, these threats are then engineered to show up in students’ regular feeds.

Because of how intentionally broad the subject is, a local student that’s perusing social media might view it through the lens of their own school and panic.

These threats are violent in nature, not unlike the shooting or bomb scares from the past. However, Superintendent Sickles reassured the public that there are no targeted attacks against CRCS or any school in the county and there was no cause for alarm.

Superintendent Sickles said that he’s collaborating closely with other superintendents in the region as well as the police to uncover how they can stop them from perpetuating, and he confirmed that an official investigation is underway.

“The challenges of school safety continue to evolve,” he said, a sentiment that agrees with his previous statements about the conflict between education and social media. “We work with the police immediately, then we take the actions appropriate for what we know.”

Although these threats might make a student uncomfortable, the district encourages any and all who see these online posts to report them as soon as they’re able, so that the police can shut them down sooner.

“Hopefully this becomes a thing of the past soon,” Superintendent Sickles concluded.

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C-R Defeats BKW

BERNE — Cobleskill-Richmondville’s girls volleyball team defeated Berne Knox in last Thursday      25-18, 25-18, and 25-22.

For Cobleskill-Richmondville, Caris Hill had seven assists and eight aces. Shavonne Travers had five aces. Aleana Johnson added three kills while Molly Coppolo had three kills and two aces.

Special thanks to Brian LaVine for the information.

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C-R Golf Wins Two

Staff Report

COBLESKILL - The Cobleskill-Richmodville golf team downed Northville/Mayfield and Canajoharie/Ft. Plain. OESJ this week.

On Tuesday, C-R hosted Northville/Mayfield and best them 153 to 248.

Qualifying for the Bulldogs were: Cooper LaBarge who shot a 34, Andy Rightmyer with a 42, CJ Warner with a 35, Fred Sperbeck with a 42, Owen McCormack with a 43, and Tiernan Farnum with a 42. LaBarge was medalist with his 34.

On Monday, C-R traveled to the Canajoharie Golf Course to play Canajoharie/Ft. Plain. OESJ and won 159 to 210.

Canajoharie is a par 36.

Qualifying for the Bulldogs were: LaBarge with a 39, Ashton Haley with a 42, Warner with a 37, Sperbeck with a 41, and McCormack with a 42. Farnum shot a 50. Warner was the medalist with his 37.

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C-R Downs MCS In Golf

COBLESKILL - Cobleskill Richmondville defeated Middleburgh 154-238 as Fred Sperbeck and Cooper LaBarge tied for medalist honors with 37s Friday at the Cobleskill Golf Course.

Qualifying for C-R were LaBarge with a 37, Andy Rightmyer with a 43, CJ Warner with a 38, Ashten Haley with a 45, Sperbeck with a 37, and Owen McCormack with a 42.

Playing on the Middleburgh side were: Matthew Quinn with a 64, Andrew Lawyer with a 55, Reese Koclijs with a 57, Jaesen Hoop with a 62, and Reiker Whitt with a 71.

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Cobleskill Sets New Highway Scope of Work

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - Last Wednesday was the first official meeting of the joint highway committee, a group formed by the Town and Village Boards to discuss their shared services agreement.

The committee was manned by Deputy Mayor Howard Burt and Trustee Larry VanHeertum with their DPW Head Aaron Cooper to represent the Village, and Councilpersons Alan Rubin and RJ Mallery with Highway Superintendent Lee Johnson to represent the Town. 

As the meeting began, the Village was eager to continue discussions about the Town’s charge of $74,000 for snow removal, but Mr. Cooper suggested that they first fix the agreement’s scope of work before talking about figures, to which the committee agreed.

Members updated the agreement line by line, most of which had already been discussed in thorough detail by both Mr. Cooper and Mr. Johnson.

The two of them explained that they would be more than happy to share services in the form of labor and equipment with one another, as both departments have helped one another in the past.

The list began with street sweeping and line painting, which the Town will allow the Village to take over and will supply them with the necessary tools to do so.

For catch basins and culvert repairs, Mr. Cooper has a line item in the Village’s budget, but will take on Town employee labor as part of their shared services.

Cold patching for potholes will fall upon the Village and Town as separate responsibilities, but whenever hot mix is needed, they will share both the rental machine and the cost of said machine, splitting the bill halfway down the middle.

Mowing around guardrails will be a shared service where both the highway department and Village employees will work together. 

Finally, arguably the biggest change is the approach to snow removal. Instead of the Village taking on sidewalks and municipal lots, both those along with the streets will be plowed by the Town, and the Village will supplement manpower to help whenever they’re available.

In addition, a Village employee that’s aiding the Town may leave to get to another emergency if they are needed elsewhere. During normal hours, the Village will continue to pay the employee as usual.

As the Town handles the roads, the Village will be responsible for plowing specific parking lots, such as the village offices, sewer and water plants, and the swimming pool.

All present at the meeting were amicable to the changes, with Mr. VanHeertum saying “I have complete confidence in these two men. They’re the experts to hammer this out.”

As for the $74,000 charge, the Town successfully explained to the Village that there should be no additional tax burden on the Village residents. Instead, what will happen is that they will be shifting away from taxes to enter into a contract, with everyone’s highway town-wide taxes going down and the Village taxes going up for the one lump sum.

While the agreement will still have to be reviewed and accepted by the two Boards, the committee was largely happy with the outcome, and set a standard recurring meeting date so that the two sides won’t fall out of communication with one another again.

The next time the committee will meet will be the first Monday in November at 1 PM, located at the highway barn.

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Cobleskill To Resubmit For DRI

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - A handful of residents showed up to the informational meeting at the library last Tuesday to learn more about the two grants that Cobleskill plans to be in the running for.

Hosted by Brendon Becker of Lamont Engineers and Mayor Rebecca Stanton-Terk, they explained that Cobleskill will be resubmitting for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward grants at the same time.

Both the DRI and NY Forward are state funds that are awarded to a community that shows readiness for significant accessibility, quality of life, and economic growth benefits within a given area in the municipality.

To show this readiness, communities must compile a multitude of projects that they believe fit the judging criteria. This list is first established by the local residents, then a technical advisor provided by the state helps narrow it down further to give the township the best odds at winning.

The DRI is the bigger of the two, totaling around ten million dollars, with the NY Forward grant being smaller in scope at four and a half million. Despite encouraging dual applications, however, a community may only be granted one of the two.

Last year, Cobleskill pitted their own downtown area for these redevelopment grants against the rest of the state, yet part of the reason why they lost is because their chosen area was too large for the state’s liking.

This time around, Cobleskill plans to resubmit the same projects from last year while fixing the technical issues that led to their loss, listening to community feedback all the while.

With fourteen projects in all, there are plans to provide more accessibility around the Village, including sidewalks leading to the hospital and bicycle lanes on the side streets, and establish economic growth opportunities, with investments into the fairgrounds and the library while building a business facade fund to help owners repair the exteriors of their shops.

In addition to these, Cobleskill will also have numerous projects that focus on quality of life, such as painting the railroad overpass by the former Pizza Hut, putting public art on display on Main Street, and building a community garden.

“We want to submit the strongest application as possible, and we intend to,” said Mayor Stanton-Terk, commenting on how she believes they hit each crucial area. 

Those in the audience suggested a wide array of what they would like to see included, such as more to deal with the housing shortage, fixing up Golding Park, and creating lanes for electric scooters on the road. 

Mr. Becker and Mayor Stanton-Terk took these into account before ending the short conference, concluding that they would love to see more participation either through their survey or by attending the next informational meeting.

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CRCS Unveils New Capital Project

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - At the latest CRCS Board of Education meeting on Monday evening, Superintendent Matthew Sickles introduced a draft proposal for the district’s new capital project.

“We did not anticipate this project at this time,” explained Superintendent Sickles, who noted the quick turnaround time since the completion of the 2022 capital project just last school year. 

However, the two projects are tied closely together. While the 2022 project was ambitious and sought to remedy much of the failing infrastructure of the four schools, it came in over budget, and so many high-priority items had to be cut from the final plan.

Picking up those discarded pieces, the proposed 2024 project will attempt to correct what the last one could not. Superintendent Sickles said that this plan will be a “limited-scope construction project” in all four schools that addresses health, safety, and infrastructure.

“We should always be just finishing and just planning capital projects,” Superintendent Sickles continued, elaborating on how the district should be entering a cycle of taking on projects as they retire older ones.

He then switched to telling the Board what kind of work will occur in which schools. Beginning with Radez, this new project plans to add rooftop air handlers, renovate the nurse’s office, the former main office suite, and the former girls’ locker room, replace accessories for the gym stage, and replace or add playground equipment.

Ryder will have much of the same playground treatment as they plan to replace both equipment and the fencing, while the Ryder-Golding connection will see the roof, exterior wall, and chimney renovated.

Golding will receive a lot of outdoor work centered on the Elm Street overlook in the form of exterior stair, ramp, and sidewalk reconstruction, and repairs for the facade, masonry and windows. 

Finally, the high school that still has much of its original infrastructure plans to see replacements for the door sets and windows at its entry points, sidewalk reconstruction and fire pump replacement, HVAC capacity improvements, repairs on the failing brick facade, and the installation of eight electric bus charging stations.

In total, the 2024 project plans to cost twelve and a half million dollars, but Superintendent Sickles said “The type of work that we’re doing is highly aidable,” and there is estimated to be zero impact on either the Capital Construction Reserve or the tax levy.

While no action was taken on the draft proposal at this time, Superintendent Sickles said that the project leads will meet to refine and solidify both the projected scope and the total cost for another presentation at the next regular meeting.

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County Tentatively Approved for $30M Broadband Buildout Grant

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Access to high-speed internet service for every Schoharie County resident is on the horizon.

County Administrator Korsah Akumfi announced at the Friday, Sept. 20 Board of Supervisors meeting that the county has received tentative approval for a $30 million grant from New York State's ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program to achieve complete broadband buildout in the county.

"It looks pretty good we will get $30 million," Akumfi explained in an interview after the meeting. He said the county has received an incentive proposal from ConnectALL and the county is seeking some clarification on some items in the proposal. Some of the other steps necessary before things are finalized are for the ConnectALL board of directors to formally approve the grant and the county BOS to sign off on a contract, Akumfi added.

The tentative approval news was greeted with enthusiasm at the Sept. 20 meeting. 

"This is an exciting moment for Schoharie County," Supervisor Alicia Terry of Gilboa said. "This is truly next generation, absolutely huge. You just don't know what kind of impact this could have on these hard-to-serve areas. The return on investment for Schoharie County is huge."

Fellow board member Donald Airey of Blenheim agreed but added a note of caution because the grant involves the state agency reimbursing the county in stages during the process rather than providing the $30 million all up front.

"It is exciting, I support it strongly," Airey said. "I'm excited but cautious. Reimbursement grants scare me. I know how it works, but I am a little afraid."

Akumfi explained there are four milestones during the buildout process, with the county getting reimbursed at the end of every one.

"We want to see this accomplished and also see the county protected as much as possible," he said. "We will be only the second county in the state to achieve 100 percent buildout."

In the after-meeting interview, Akumfi said the total estimated cost to achieve broadband buildout is $33.6 million. To close the gap, he said the county is seeking $1.8 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission and also working with partners like the Schoharie County Industrial Development Agency to bring the total up to $33.6 million.

Akumfi said residents would not have to meet income guidelines to get internet access under the buildout program. He added the timeline for buildout is relatively tight, with guidelines stating it must be achieved by the end of 2026.

"This is a huge investment in our community," Akumfi said at the Sept. 20 meeting.

In other news from the Sept. 20 meeting, Terry introduced Caroline Myran as the county's new agriculture development specialist. She succeeds Nick Kossmann, who left to take a job with a state agency.

"I'm really excited," Myran said. "I've farmed off and on most of my life."

Akumfi said part of Myran's job is to support agribusinesses and connect them with services. Her starting annual salary in her new position is $62,220.

Myran grew up in Vermont and has lived for about the last two years with her family on a five-acre property in Seward. She said at the meeting she has already visited some farms of some of the supervisors and is looking forward to visiting more and also farms around the county.

Myran has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy from Columbia University's Barnard College and a master's degree in Sustainable Agriculture with a focus on food systems from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She can be contacted at caroline.myran@schoharie county-ny.gov.

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Great Success for Harvest Festival

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS — The Sharon Springs Harvest Festival was this past weekend on Saturday, September 21st & Sunday September 22nd. The Village of Sharon Springs was full of visitors and locals alike!

This annual “bucolic festival” has been the long running celebration for the bounty of our area, with this event showcasing the many farms and talented artisans that help to make Upstate NY so special! 

With wonderful community support and an amazing collaborative effort this year, it really took a Village to pull off this highly successful annual Sharon Springs Harvest Festival.

With excellent weather, everything was smooth and under control throughout, making for an enjoyable festival for all the visitors! The music in the Chalybeate Temple was rocking throughout both days.

Big ‘Brava’ to Brittany Coyne of Coyne Realty Group for taking on the Children’s Area this year! Brittany recently moved to Sharon Springs with her family and became active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Harvest Festival Committee as soon as she could. Way to set an example!

The Event Organizers would like to thank all the Sponsors for the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival with another big another big thanks to ALL the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival Committee Members who put so much into this!

And a special THANK YOU to all the farms and artisan vendors who participated this year! 

The planning is already underway for next year! Please visit sharonspringsharvestfestival.com to sign up for a newsletter for next year's Harvest Festival! Remember to tag your own photos on social media @sharonspringsharvestfest.

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Kite Festival Set for Cherry Valley Friday, Saturday

CHERRY VALLEY - Cherry Valley Artworks will present the 10th Cherry Valley Kite Festival on the weekend of September 27th-28. 

The biennial festival has become a highly anticipated event on the Otsego County Fall Tourism schedule drawing over 1,500 attendees to the beautiful and historic village of Cherry Valley. Kite Flyers, kite makers and members of kite clubs from all over the Northeast and Canada will travel to Cherry Valley, filling the autumn skies with kites of every size and description. 

The opening event on Friday evening will be the amazing Indoor Kite Fly. Some of the world’s best indoor flyers, including former world champions, will enchant the audience with their skill and grace. This gravity defying display of athleticism, entertainment and science will be preceded by a mini-kite building workshop for people of all ages. Both events will be held in the Cherry Valley Community Center, 2 Genesee Street and both are free of charge. There will be a food truck serving Barbecue and other delights on site. 

Saturday morning will begin with a 9am Children's Kite Building Workshop in the Old School Community Center.  Children will make kites that they can then bring up to the kite field where kite flying lessons will be available. A $5 fee includes all materials. 

The main event, an all-day outdoor fly (10am-5pm), takes place on a hillside belonging to 200-year old Glensfoot Farm. It provides an amazing setting with glorious views. Events on the main field will feature precision team kite flying.

A championship team will be displaying spectacular aerial ballet performances throughout the day. Giant kites will fly depending on wind conditions. The audience will be invited to take part in The Running of the Bols (a race for different age groups dragging an inflated parachute-like kite). Lots of other fun surprises! Lessons in proper kite flying techniques will also be offered and people are invited to bring their own kites.

A hospitality tent set up on site will provide shelter with tables and chairs for eating and drinking. Local organizations such as churches, scouts and civic organizations are given priority space at no charge.  Delicious food, crafts, home-made goods and other goodies will be for sale.

The weekend will close with a Sunday morning pancake breakfast at the Cherry Valley firehouse.

Cherry Valley Artworks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting art, culture and community in Cherry Valley and the surrounding area. We are committed to nurturing the creativity and talent in our own community as well as expanding interest and access to a wider world of artistic excellence through a broad range of programming featuring concerts, art exhibits, film, dance, photography, and community-wide festivals and events.

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Review: Awestruck Ciders

By Timothy Knight 

Situated within an industrial district just off I-88, Awestruck Ciders at first offers a perplexing impression: it appears out of place, and distant from the nearby Village of Sydney. However, I soon changed my opinion upon going through the cidery’s front doors, and was impressed not only by the locally produced product, but by the charming atmosphere contained in the taproom.

Over the past few years, I have journeyed with my wife Courtney to many breweries and cideries within a seventy-five mile radius of Middleburgh. Rarely have we been disappointed with either the product or the presentation, as craft beverage producers in New York State simply know how to effectively separate the wheat from the chaff. Awestruck Ciders is no different in this regard. 

Offering a delicious array of ciders, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages at fairly low prices ($5-$7 for a pint of beer or cider, and only $8 for a flight of any four ciders available on tap), Awestruck Ciders is very affordable for any group, couple, or individual. Furthermore, tasty food is available on premises by Gavin’s, ranging from a variety of flatbreads to sliders and pretzels. 

Additionally, I was very pleased with the interior atmosphere. 

Combining a beautifully designed bar with string lighting, industrial aesthetic, cases of cider available for purchase, and a school bus - retrofitted for cozy, quaint seating - the environment was not only incredibly inviting, but it felt unique to Awestruck Ciders. Although twenty to thirty other people were present, our party of four still felt very private and comfortable at our corner table. 

So far as the cider itself, I cannot recommend the Apples & Pears more. My wife sampled an eclectic mix, including the Hibiscus Ginger and Peach Ring (a limited edition option) on tap, and she raved about both. Awestruck’s ciders are available for purchase in local stores and online, but I would highly recommend taking a ride out to the Sydney taproom for a nice evening out. 

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Richmondville Discusses Possible New School Bus Garage Power

By Chris English

RICHMONDVILLE — The ins and outs of possibly having Richmondville Power & Light provide electricity for a new Cobleskill-Richmondville school bus garage was the subject of a special Village of Richmondville board meeting on Thursday morning, Sept. 19.

Attending the meeting and advising village Mayor Carl Warner Jr. and Trustees Garry Davis, Robert Hyatt and Milan Jackson on the matter were General Manager-Executive Director Jim Stokes and Counsel Ken Podolny of the New York Municipal Power Agency. Richmondville Power & Light purchases supplemental electricity and has other dealings with NYMPA.

Davis emphasized early on that the Cobleskill-Richmondville School District does not have a specific bus garage proposal in that district officials have not selected a site or ironed out a lot of other details. However, it's generally well known that the district needs a new bus garage and the need has been accentuated by New York State directives to have school districts purchase strictly electric buses starting in 2027 and have all emission free (electric) fleets by 2035.

Any new bus garage would likely include charging stations and could also be heated by electricity, Strokes pointed out.

"They (school district officials) are out selecting sites and the one eventually picked could fall within our franchise (service) area," Davis said. "This is an informational meeting. We're trying to get ahead of this in case the site selected falls within our franchise area."

Richmondville Power & Light's service area includes all of the village, two-thirds of the Town of Richmondville and most of Warnerville. Two of the three Cobleskill-Richmondville school campuses _ Radez Elementary School and the high school _ are already serviced by Richmondville Power & Light.

Stokes and Podolny said that if the Richmondville power company ends up providing service to the new bus garage, it would need to upgrade is current 5MW capacity system because the bus garage itself would carry a 2MW load. The cost for upgrades needed to accommodate the new school bus garage could be passed along to the school district, either up front or reflected in the rate charged CR, the two NYMPA representatives said.

"Your existing system needs to be upgraded anyway," regardless of the possible addition of the bus garage, Strokes pointed out. "But I would like you to view it (possible addition of garage) as an opportunity and a challenge, not as a problem. As a NYMPA member, we want you to succeed and to grow.

"Electrification is the stated goal and law in New York State. I think that's reasonable. I'm reasonably confident it will occur, to one extent or another. The timing might change."

Referring to the electric school bus and other mandates issued by the state, Podolny added that they often become fluid.

"They can mandate all they want but that doesn't necessarily mean it will happen," he said. "If I had to bet, I would guess that the mandate of purchasing only electric buses will not happen by 2027."

A study of upgrades needed to the Richmondville Power & Light system could be funded from a pool of $3 million in grant money available from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Strokes and Podolny said. The maximum available to any one entity is $200,000.

"The sooner the better," Stokes said of Richmondville applying for the grant. "It will be first come, first served."

Also touched on at the special meeting is the village's upcoming rate case to the state Public Service Commission for a possible hike in Richmondville Power & Light rates, something that has not occurred in well over a decade, officials at the meeting said.

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