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| June - 2000: News Archives |
Friday, June 30, 2000
Four days of events to mark the Fourth
ONEONTA — The Fourth of July is Tuesday, and it's conceivable that skyrocketing gas prices could play a role in how far people will travel for their holiday fireworks.
After all, the average price for a gallon of regular-grade gas has risen from about $1.19 last year to $1.97, according to AAA figures.
See related story: Fireworks displays
See related story: 4th of July events
Sidney teacher earns acclaim
SIDNEY — Richard Townsend has a chance to become the second Sidney science teacher to win the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.
Celebration to go on despite fire
EAST MASONVILLE — Despite setbacks from a fire that damaged a newly painted house, an annual Fourth of July celebration will go on, a member of the Finch family said Thursday.
Time for fresh air
ONEONTA — In preparation to play host to their first Fresh Air Fund child, the Youngs picked up a homemade dessert and a bunch of Alstromeria lilies with a yellow smiley-face balloon.
"We're really excited," said Chris Young, who was waiting with her husband, Craig, for Leilah Walker, an 8-year-old Manhattan girl, to arrive in Neahwa Park on Thursday evening. "We hope she is."
Dozens attend cannon talk
SIDNEY — Several questions were asked at a meeting Thursday night about the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Sidney, but only a few were answered.
The meeting, which was held by the Sidney Historical Association, was prompted by the sale of two Civil War cannons from the cemetery in April.
DEC to decide on waste station by July 21
UNADILLA — The state Department of Environmental Conservation expects to reach a decision on the controversial Unadilla waste facility by July 21, according to a DEC official.
Vandals hit gravestones
SIDNEY CENTER — Vandalism has struck the Highland Cemetery in Sidney Center for the second time this year.
Roads not doctored, chief says
Andes town roads were not prepared or graded in any way for the Irish Hills Rally cars that raced through the town on Saturday, according to Bruce Soules, Andes highway superintendent.
SUCO professor's article on Jackie Robinson published
ONEONTA — Jackie Robinson's place in American culture transcends baseball, according to a local college professor.
Thursday, June 29, 2000
Nesting eagles cause concern
A bald eagle soaring high in the sky is a breath-taking sight and nothing is more thrilling than spotting one of the regal birds perched high in a tree.
But bothering nesting eagles can have devastating results.
Decision welcomed locally
Local Boy Scout leaders said they support Wednesday's U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the organization to exclude gay scoutmasters.
Area families to get funding for housing
About 160 families and individuals in three area counties stand to benefit from more than $2.5 million in low-income housing funding.
Residents mixed on Andes road rally
The Irish Hills Road Rally was completed without incident, Andes Supervisor Martin Donnelly said.
"It was very successful," Donnelly said. "There were no fatalities, and there was a sellout crowd for the fire department chicken barbecue. The restaurants and the gas station in the village were full all day long."
Man pleads innocent to charges
An Andes man who allegedly socked Andes Supervisor Martin Donnelly during a town board meeting pleaded innocent when he appeared in Andes Town Court on Tuesday.
School review of athlete rules will continue
ONEONTA — The policy committee of the Oneonta city school board gathered input on proposed changes to the rules that govern student athletes during a public meeting Wednesday.
Local kayakers plan memorial to longtime coach
For decades, paddling coach Lee Abbott prepared kayakers for national and international competitions.
Now, as a memorial to their longtime coach, who died last December at 87, a group of paddlers and friends is working to convert her Goodyear Lake house into a summer training camp.
Wednesday, June 28, 2000
Residents rail against train
MILFORD - As its second season begins, the Leatherstocking Railway, an excursion line that runs from Milford nearly to Cooperstown, has detractors among its neighbors on Route 166 in Milford.
Gene project's findings excite area scientists
For patients, Monday's announcement that scientists have nearly deciphered the human genetic code raises the likelihood of better drug treatments as well as new concerns about privacy and discrimination.
Mayor finds reading fundamental
COOPERSTOWN - Cooperstown Mayor Wendell Tripp is featured in the current issue of "Book" magazine in an article about what American mayors read.
National Guard assists in park project
ONEONTA — The New York Army National Guard is assisting the city of Oneonta in its development of a planned recreational park off state Route 205.
Developer finds interest in rink
ONEONTA — The developer who plans to build a $2.5 million ice rink in the town of Oneonta reported a "steady stream" of responses since he mailed out flyers to gauge community interest in youth hockey and figure-skating programs.
Poetry workshop to begin Saturday
ONEONTA — The Catskill Poetry Workshop, which features writing seminars, lectures, conferences and panels on the art and craft of poetry, will be presented as part of Hartwick College's Summer Programs from Saturday through July 8.
Blood shortage hasn't hit local hospitals
Two of the area's largest hospitals have managed to avoid the effects of the region's most recent blood supply shortage.
Review: Biology texts fail to keep up
When it comes to explaining breakthroughs such as the human genome project, high school biology textbooks fail to make the grade, a leading science organization charged Tuesday.
Davenport teen-ager honored for volunteerism
Amanda Sellevold, 17, of Davenport, was recognized for her commitment to serving her community when she received a scholarship from the Community Outreach to Children program recently.
Tuesday, June 27, 2000
Bill draws mixed reviews
Gov. George Pataki's bill to crack down on sexual criminals passed the state Senate and the Assembly on Friday night, but Assembly Republicans say it's not tough enough.
Area farmers to get chance to show off fruits of labor
Local farmers will have a chance to shine Saturday when the West Kortright Centre holds its 25th anniversary extravaganza.
And guests will be able to taste the gastronomical results at the "Dinner of Regional Delights."
Parks chief, senator help open motorboat launch
RICHFIELD - Bernadette Castro, commissioner of the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, came to Richfield on Monday to celebrate the opening of a $650,000 motorboat launch on the western shore of Canadarago Lake.
Castro warns of 'Jet Ski' dangers
RICHFIELD - According to Bernadette Castro, commissioner of the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the state is working hard to regulate the use of personal watercraft -- known widely under the brand name: "Jet Skis."
Hospital workers to picket
SIDNEY — Civil service workers at The Hospital will step out for an informational picketing session between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday.
State, club end fight over canoeists
ALBANY — The state and a private Adirondack club put an end on Monday to a nine-year legal battle, reaching a settlement that fell on the side of five canoeists who were slapped with a lawsuit for allegedly trespassing on private land.
Otsego Lake to get 10,000 new walleyes
COOPERSTOWN - The first 10,000 of some 80,000 walleye pond-fingerlings will be released into Otsego Lake on Wednesday morning, according to Bill Harman, director of the State University College at Oneonta's Biological Field Station.
School plans to open day-care program
A first-of-its-kind day-care program will likely be in operation when classes resume this fall at Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School, district officials said Monday.
Developers make softball camp smaller again
FLY CREEK - Developers who plan to build a girls' softball camp on state Route 205 in the town of Otsego said Friday they have again downsized their proposal in an effort to win approval from the Otsego town Planning Board.
Stamford man pleads guilty to stealing bike
DELHI — A Stamford man appearing in Delaware County Court on Monday pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle from a trailer.
Formermayor found guilty
A federal jury in Syracuse has convicted a former Stamford mayor on charges of tax evasion and filing a false claim.
Walton school voters to decide on land buy
WALTON — Voters in the Walton Central School District will decide the fate of a $1,350,000 building and land purchase project on Wednesday.
Monday, June 26, 2000
The house that strangers built
BAINBRIDGE — The sound of hammers and the whir of a circular saw compete in the morning air.
On the residential block of Newtown Avenue in Bainbridge, the wooden shell of a building has the attention of a dedicated group of workers.
Local seniors say goodbye to high school
About 1,500 area high school seniors, the first graduates of the new millennium, were awarded diplomas over the weekend that mark both an accomplishment and the start of something new.
Lifelong love of chess moves man to teach
RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Andrew Demidenko remembers playing a game of chess with world champion Boris Spassky.
He was 11 at the time, living in Leningrad in the Soviet Union.
CCS seniors graduate to next challenge
COOPERSTOWN - With the weather alternately blazing hot and threatening a storm, the Class of 2000 at Cooperstown Central School was graduated Sunday on the pristine lawn at the Fenimore Art Museum.
OHS sends 134 into the world
ONEONTA — If children are reflections of the communities they live in, Oneonta must be a pretty darn good place.
The Oneonta High School Class of 2000 graduation on Saturday provided a promising glimpse at this "city of the hills."
Walton grads go global
WALTON — Walton's graduating Class of 2000 became part of the global community Saturday afternoon.
Speakers praise Sidney's senior
SIDNEY — When Sidney Superintendent Dominic Nuciforo first came to the district four years ago, this year's graduating class was made up of freshmen who were also starting out on a new adventure.
Delhi school has its 180th graduation
DELHI — Graduation was a day to receive high school diplomas and put on mantles of adulthood, speakers said at Delaware Academy's ceremonies on Saturday.
75 get diplomas at Unatego
OTEGO — With the boys in green graduation gowns and the girls in white, 75 Unatego Central School seniors received their high school diplomas Saturday.
It was a 100-minute ceremony filled with speeches, performances and awards.
Saturday, June 24, 2000
Class of 2000 looks to future
ONEONTA — Disco died before they were born. Iraq invaded Kuwait when they were 10. Bill Clinton has been president almost half their lives.
Residents recall Korea experiences
Fifty years after the start of the Korean War, two local veterans and a scholar are still coming to terms with the conflict.
The war "started out very patriotic," said New Berlin resident Larry Daniels, 69.
Community leader wins distinction
"This was her award, hands down," Sen. Thomas W. Libous said of Tammy Carnrike, this year's recipient of the state Senate's Women of Distinction honor from the 51st District.
Seniors bid Charlotte Valley farewell
DAVENPORT — Joe and Bonnie Guntert drove all morning from Long Island to see their goddaughter, Amy Searles, graduate from Charlotte Valley Central School on Friday.
Fresh Air Fund children to arrive Thursday
Running barefoot on a grassy lawn, digging for night crawlers at dusk and even seeing a shooting star; many kids have never had these experiences that rural residents take for granted.
Dance teacher to leave studio after 10 years
Although the curtain has closed on Leslie Davidson's career as a dance instructor at Oneonta Tap Works, that does not mean she will not be back for an encore.
Friday, June 23, 2000
Company loses Job Corps contract
ONEONTA — The firm managing the Oneonta Job Corps has had the remainder of its contract canceled by the federal Department of Labor, which said management and overall performance are lacking at the center.
Gas costs mystify residents
As the federal government investigates whether price gouging is to blame for high gasoline prices, people expressed outrage, frustration and hopelessness while filling up at area service stations on Thursday.
Research inspires man to explore new heights
DELHI — Martin Podskoch's fascination with fire towers began in the fall of 1988.
That's when he climbed Hunter Mountain and fell under the spell of the elderly observer, who manned the tower and told stories of the thousands of visitors who made pilgrimages to the tower every year.
The Towers
DELHI — The Catskill Fire Tower Restoration Project aims to reopen the five remaining steel towers in the 300,000-acre Catskill Park, according to Martin Podskoch, who has studied and written about the observation towers.
The Rexmere Hotel closes
STAMFORD — The Rexmere Hotel, a well-known Stamford landmark formerly known as The Red Carpet Motor Inn, closed Monday due to bankruptcy proceedings, leaving people who had booked rooms and events in the lurch.
Economy to be topic at event Saturday
BAINBRIDGE — How to make the local economy grow will be the focus of a conference in Bainbridge on Saturday.
Sabedra trial over, parties look to move on
Sue Sutherland of Oneonta said she barely slept Wednesday night, so excited were she and Andrew F. "Butch" Sabedra about his acquittal on assault charges in Otsego County Court.
Proposed pesticide notification law bugs some
Hot and humid days of summer are coming, and with them come the annual invasion of mosquitoes, flies, ants and other insects.
Thursday, June 22, 2000
Sabedra acquitted of charges
COOPERSTOWN - After deliberating just 21/2 hours Wednesday, an Otsego County Court jury found Andrew F. Sabedra, 44, innocent of assaulting young Jacob Negroni on Jan. 27, 1999.
Hopefuls set to challenge incumbents
With just a few weeks remaining before candidate petitions are due to seek election to the state Legislature, two Congressional seats and an Assembly spot are being contested.
Women's club marks centennial
UNADILLA — One hundred years after it began, the Unadilla Federated Women's Club is going strong.
Surrounded by scrapbooks, tea, cookies and memories, the 30 members celebrated the occasion Tuesday, June 20, which was the very date the organization began in 1900 with 38 members.
Fuel price hike may force cuts in projects
COOPERSTOWN — High fuel prices may force Otsego County to find additional funds for road maintenance and construction work or eliminate some projects this summer, representatives said at Wednesday night's meeting.
Firm to expand parking behind 99 Main in Delhi
DELHI — The Delaware County Board of Supervisors decided Wednesday night to enter into a lease agreement with the Clark Cos. to expand parking space behind the county office building at 99 Main St.
Bike tour to be held July 29
A Western Catskill Bicycle Tour, featuring a variety of routes, will be held on Saturday, July 29, in Delaware County.
Tour courses, which will be offered for riders of different abilities, will begin and end in Courthouse Square on Main Street in Delhi.
Plant could close
BAINBRIDGE — The future of the Jennison plant in Bainbridge is unclear as the owners, AES Corp., based in Arlington, Va., challenge the property's tax assessment for the second year in a row.
Oneonta school board covers several topics
ONEONTA — The Oneonta city school board held an eclectic final meeting of the 1999-2000 school year Wednesday, saying goodbye to board member Scott Gravelin and welcoming a new high school science teacher.
Unadilla moves ahead on sewer district plans
UNADILLA — The town of Unadilla is moving forward with plans for a Riverside sewer district, town officials said.
Wednesday, June 21, 2000
Recent rainfall hurting area crops, dairy farmers
Farmers can only make hay when the sun shines, but sunshine has been a scarce commodity this spring, so hay isn't being harvested and corn isn't being planted.
Sabedra testifies at trial
COOPERSTOWN - Andrew F. Sabedra and 10 other defense witnesses testified Tuesday at his assault trial in Otsego County Court, and at the end of the day, the defense rested its case.
Laurens crossing guard to hit the road
LAURENS — After 10 years of faithful service, Al Lapp is retiring his stop sign and hanging up his fluorescent orange vest.
Health care stalls CSEA deal
ONEONTA — Contract woes continue for the city of Oneonta and the local Civil Service union, which broke off negotiations this week over the issue of health-care coverage.
Einhorn project on hold again
HARTWICK — The Hartwick Town Planning Board requested more information about the environmental impact of Eddie Einhorn's proposed Cooperstown Baseball World at a meeting Tuesday night.
Blodgett Drive residents voice concerns
ONEONTA — Blodgett Drive residents said the recent opening of Cooperstown Baseball World has brought with it the parking problems they had predicted would overwhelm their neighborhood.
SUNY trustees OK $1.7 billion budget
ALBANY — The State University of New York board approved a budget Tuesday calling for its 64 campuses to spend $1.7 billion in the next year.
Social Services offers to extend program
ONEONTA — Otsego County's emergency homeless assistance program could be extended to Sept. 30 from June 30 under a proposal offered Tuesday by the county's Department of Social Services.
Oneonta faces several vacant posts at schools
The annual summer hiring process is under way in the Oneonta City School District and several vacancies need to be filled, including key positions in special education and high school science and math, administrators said Monday.
Weather may rain on parking plans for circus on Thursday
DELHI — The Carson & Barnes Five-Ring Circus is coming to Delhi on Thursday.
But if it rains, parking may be a problem and officials are planning parking options and encouraging carpooling.
Hartwick honors nursing professor for her excellence
ONEONTA — A Laurens nursing professor was recently presented the Margaret B. Bunn Award for Excellence in Teaching, Hartwick College's most prestigious teaching honor for faculty.
Senate set to pass rules on Jetskis
ALBANY — The leader of the Republican-controlled state Senate said Tuesday his house will pass "home rule" legislation this week that would allow local governments to ban personal watercraft such as Jetskis.
Tuesday, June 20, 2000
DA rests case in Sabedra trial
COOPERSTOWN - After examining three witnesses Monday, Otsego County District Attorney William "Jack" Gibbons rested his case in the retrial of Andrew F. Sabedra, 44, who is accused of assaulting 11-month-old Jacob Negroni on Jan. 27, 1999.
Man kills rabid fox after suffering attack
A rabid fox terrorized a family in Otego on Saturday and eventually bit a man on the ear.
Evelyn Litwin's family arrived at her Flax Island Road home after a memorial service for her husband and was greeted by a vicious red fox that was attacking passing cars and tried to bite them as they got out of their car.
Einhorn campers arrive in Oneonta
ONEONTA — For the Big Katz from Pickerington, Ohio, Coopertown Baseball World is a tune-up for an upcoming Little League World Series qualifying game.
Scholarship program expands in Oneonta
ONEONTA — The Oneonta Dollars for Scholars Organization lightened the financial burden for 37 college-bound students this past week.
Rabies cases stabilizing, state officials say
Case numbers of animals infected with rabies have dropped to a stable level for the first time since the raccoon rabies outbreak began in 1990, officials reported Monday.
PINS plan sparks mixed emotions locally
Local officials had mixed reactions to a bill en route to the governor that would increase age guidelines for a "Person In Need of Supervision," or a PINS minor.
Relay for life raises $78,000
COOPERSTOWN — The American Cancer Society raised $78,000 during its second annual Relay For Life event in Otsego County, organizers said.
Festivities kicked off at Iroquois Farm on Friday at 6 p.m. with cancer survivors walking the first lap of the relay.
Boating-death rate hits record low in New York state
ALBANY — New York state recorded its lowest boating-fatality rate ever in 1999, with 25 people losing their lives despite there being a record number of vessels registered.
Oneonta Dollars For Scholars 2000 scholarship winners:
Kirchelle Alston (Pratt Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute) ODS Margaret W. Ouimette Memorial Scholarship.
Karen Bain (Eastern College) Oneonta Dollars for Scholars Scholarship.
ICU forced to close after air-conditioning fails
SIDNEY —The loss of an air-conditioning unit at The Hospital in Sidney on Friday forced the facility temporarily to close its intensive care unit and recovery room, hospital officials said.
Monday, June 19, 2000
Prices fuel `gas and dash'
A man pulls up to the pump and fills his new Chevrolet Tahoe with $35 in gas. He hangs around, waiting until a long line of customers forms at the cash register.
Then the man and his three young sons peel out of the parking lot without paying.
Graduation a habit for Delhi student
DELHI — Rebecca Heinegg will don a cap and gown on Saturday to graduate with her Delaware Academy Class of 2000, which isn't unusual, except that she graduated from college last month.
Woman, DVH to mark half a century together
WALTON — When Delaware Valley Hospital celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2001, one of the original employees intends to still be working her shift.
GED project set for farmworkers
ONEONTA — The State University College at Oneonta has been awarded $2.25 million to fund a high school equivalency program for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford, said.
Toys to help tell town's story
MEREDITH — Toys often have reflected the life and times of the children who owned and played with them.
Life in Meredith from the mid-1800s to the present will be mirrored in a special toy show being held to celebrate the bicentennial of the town.
Auction to raise money for downtown activities
ONEONTA — The Downtown Oneonta Promotion Committee will hold an auction at the Autumn Cafe at 244 Main St. at 6 p.m. today.
Anti-smoking drawing wins award
Brenda Sloan, an eighth-grader at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School, has received national recognition for her artwork.
She was one of four winners among entries in the national anti-smoking Father's Day card contest. The competition is designed to encourage children to speak out about the dangers of cigarettes.
Convicted serial killer rejoins prison population
FALLSBURG - Convicted serial killer Arthur Shawcross, the former Delhi resident who spent the last nine months in solitary confinement for selling artwork on the Internet, is back in the general prison population.
Saturday, June 17, 2000
Father's Day elicits fond memories
Sunday is Father's Day, a traditional time to remember dad with cards, gifts and special meals.
For some area residents, it's also a time to reflect on the experiences and meaning of fatherhood.
Child might testify at trial
COOPERSTOWN - Andrew F. Sabedra's 6-year-old daughter is an eye-witness to his assault of young Jacob Negroni on Jan. 27, 1999, according a state police investigator who testified in Otsego County Court Friday.
Retirees put experience to work for businesses
ONEONTA — For 10 years, volunteers with the Executive Service Corps of Otsego-Delaware have shared their management expertise with nonprofit groups and small businesses that need advice.
Pesky beetle plagues shrubs statewide
They've been chewing a path across New York state, and experts say it's only a matter of time before they find their way to a viburnum shrub near you.
City depot finds new life as Italian restaurant
Fans of Italian Kitchen now have another restaurant to try.
After more than a year of extensive renovations, Italian Kitchen owners Antonio and Vincenzo Avanzato opened Stella Luna Stazione at the former Oneonta train depot on Market Street on June 1.
Upcoming road rally stirs controversy among residents
ANDES — Concerns about a road rally scheduled in the towns of Andes and Bovina on June 24 have led town officials to consider withdrawing their support.
Friday, June 16, 2000
Death delays Sabedra trial
COOPERSTOWN - Testimony in the assault trial of Andrew F. Sabedra is to begin in Otsego County Court today.
Judge Michael Coccoma postponed proceedings a second day Thursday to allow key prosecution witnesses to cope with a family tragedy.
Clinics facing budget woes
Circumstances behind last week's midyear budget cuts at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital aren't unique, area hospital administrators said this week.
Wanted: Singers in Sidney
SIDNEY — Calling all vocalists: If you would like to sing in the Sidney area this summer, David Rossi is looking for you.
Unemployed to get help at one-stop shop
ONEONTA — Eligible job seekers will have a more convenient place to find employment assistance beginning early next month, according to the Otsego County Office of Employment and Training.
Kids fold 1,000 cranes
OTEGO — When students at Otego Elementary School were looking for a way to deal with two tragedies that rocked the school earlier this year, they turned to the ancient Japanese art form of origami.
City court gets security boost
ONEONTA — Those planning to visit the Oneonta City Court while it is in session will now have to pass through a metal detector.
Meeting to address future of deer hunting
The state Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a deer-management meeting in Oneonta to seek ideas from hunters and others on how to manage the growing deer population, Region 4 Director Steve Schassler said.
Thursday, June 15, 2000
Andes man allegedly socks chief
An Andes man was charged with third-degree assault after allegedly attacking Andes Town Supervisor Martin A. Donnelly during a board meeting Tuesday.
City officers cite problems
ONEONTA — Low wages, combined with a heavy work load, are chiefly to blame for a shrinking Oneonta Police Department, members of the force told the city Common Council's Public Safety Board on Wednesday.
Cooperstown teen isn't horsing around
COOPERSTOWN - Caitlin Niedzialkowski has been riding as long as she can remember.
All those hours in the saddle paid off last weekend, as she won the Josef Neckermann Perpetual Trophy at The Farmers' Museum Benefit Horse Show.
Hartwick grad wins national award for research
ONEONTA — Louise Hecker, a 2000 graduate of Hartwick College, won the first-place award at the national conference of the Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society for her research on amphibian deformities.
Otsego board split on girls' camp
FLY CREEK - An all-girls softball park on state Route 205 in the town of Otsego was again on the agenda at Tuesday's meeting of the Otsego Town Planning Board, Chairman Thomas Breiten said.
Competition more than final results for OM students
SIDNEY — Meeting other students, trading souvenir pins and learning the importance of preparation were high points of being at the world level Odyssey of the Mind competition in Tennessee, a coach and an adviser said.
Walton chamber to honor citizen, business of year
The Walton Chamber of Commerce will honor a Walton citizen and an area business for outstanding commitment to the community.
Wednesday, June 14, 2000
SUNY to mull budget plan
ALBANY — State University of New York campuses in Oneonta, Delhi and Cobleskill would all see increases in their core instructional budgets in the 2000-01 school year under a financial plan SUNY trustees will consider next week.
Local seniors hail drug proposal
DELHI — Local Medicare recipients agreed Tuesday that prescription coverage should be added to the public benefits program for senior citizens.
And something must be done to control the cost of prescription drugs, they said.
Testimony to begin Thursday
COOPERSTOWN - By early Tuesday afternoon, a jury had been selected in Andrew F. Sabedra's assault retrial; however, testimony will not begin until Thursday to accommodate the schedules of prosecution witnesses.
Educators set for trip on info superhighway
ONEONTA — As the hot, summer months arrive, educators Rhonda King and Janet Williammee, like most people, are packing their bags.
They are not going to a beach or lake house, though — they are headed to Washington, D.C., for a six-day workshop at the Library of Congress.
Train derailment evacuation ends
HARPURSVILLE — Three days after the derailment of a Delaware and Hudson train in Harpursville, the evacuation order at the scene was lifted.
Roxbury sets vote for today
ROXBURY — Polls will be open from 3 p.m to 9 p.m. today at Roxbury Central School for the second vote on the 2000-2001 school budget.
In May, voters rejected the budget 258-237. The board of education approved a revised budget a week later.
Food show helps market local products
COOPERSTOWN — Paul and Julie Koch sold their five-grain porridge from plastic bags with twist ties until last month.
After working with a marketing consultant as part of the Cooperstown Area Products project, they switched to a sturdy paper-based bag with a built-in closure.
Former planners' co-chair criticizes town for decision
HARTWICK - Orrin Higgins was removed as co-chairman of Hartwick Town Planning Board on Monday after a little more than six months in the role.
Higgins said his demotion signifies that developers are closer to taking over the town.
School project gains speed
ONEONTA — Some people thought they were crazy to do it, said the Rev. Paul Roman of St. Mary's Church, and others refused to support the project.
But today, as construction for a new St. Mary's Roman Catholic School inches forward, naysayers may want to reconsider their views, he said.
Tuesday, June 13, 2000
Emergency crews try to clear track
HARPURSVILLE — The 44 Harpursville residents evacuated from the area of Saturday's train derailment were still being kept from their homes Monday, and three area schools remained closed.
Trial starts as 7 jurors are chosen
COOPERSTOWN - The retrial of Andrew F. Sabedra, who is charged with assaulting a toddler at the Teddy Bear Daycare Center in Oneonta last year, began Monday in Otsego County Court with the selection of seven jurors from a pool of 110.
Boy learns `the power of safety'
ONEONTA — When 10-year-old Patrick Neapolitano saw two boys playing with a downed wire following a recent storm, he remembered what he had learned on field trip to New York State Electric & Gas in Oneonta.
Teachers may face background check
ALBANY — The state Legislature appears close to requiring newly hired teachers to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check before they step into a classroom.
Hartwick Town Board appoints planner
HARTWICK — The Hartwick Town Board has appointed a new member to its planning board, and has shifted the roles of two others who serve on the seven-person body.
Job Corps expels dozen
ONEONTA — The Oneonta Job Corps Center has expelled 12 students after they cornered a classmate in his dormitory room and beat him up, Job Corps spokesman Mark Drnek said Monday.
Mental-health advocates blast Seward for holding up bill in committee
ALBANY — Legislation that would force insurers to cover mental illness the same way they do physical ailments is one step closer to becoming law.
Hartwick students build a house of straw
ONEONTA — Twelve Hartwick College students are involved in building a house of straw.
Monday, June 12, 2000
Officials set goal to boost attendance
ONEONTA — Lynn DeMarco was surprised to hear she was only several hundred feet from Oneonta's most popular tourist attraction.
"That's the Soccer Hall of Fame?" said DeMarco, who made the 80-mile trip from the Albany area to watch her 15-year-old son, Doug, play in a recent Saturday tournament on one of the hall's four fields. "I didn't even know that's what it was."
Woman's TLC saves abandoned puppy's life
WALTON — Beullah frolicked on the lawn, attacking dandelion leaves and tipping over occasionally, in typical clumsy puppy fashion.
The healthy, 5-week-old pup, has a fairy godmother named Linda Barbato, who watches her playing and marvels that the little dog beat the odds.
DEC revokes town's burning permit
DAVENPORT — Davenport residents may not want to trim trees or cut down brush until they have figured out what to do with the debris.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation revoked the town of Davenport's burning permit on Wednesday, following complaints by citizens, Supervisor Todd Rider said.
City starts sidewalk work
ONEONTA — The city of Oneonta has begun this year's schedule for sidewalk construction, city engineering officials said.
Seven streets are on the schedule. Goodrich Contracting of Oneonta has been contracted by the city to complete six of them — Cherry Street, Linden Avenue, Cedar Street, Gilbert Street, Maple Street and Spruce Street.
Sale of historic cannons raises a stir in Sidney
SIDNEY — You might say it was the cannon sale heard 'round the world.
It started simply enough. The local cemetery association needed to raise some money, so the board decided to sell a couple old cannons located in the Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Hall gets $1M birthday gift
ONEONTA — Call it an expensive birthday gift.
The National Soccer Hall of Fame, which marks its first birthday today, has received a $1 million donation from the shareholders of the At-A-Glance Group, Soccer Hall President Will Lunn said last week. The hall plans to make a formal announcement today, Lunn said.
HIGHLIGHTS
ä The National Soccer Hall of Fame offers a history of the sport in the U.S. It includes the world's oldest soccer ball, information and photos highlighting soccer legends and inductees, a display on the United States' upset victory against England in 1950 World Cup and a review of the country's professional leagues.
Saturday, June 10, 2000
Truck cuts cable wires
ONEONTA — Service to 23,000 Time Warner Cable Television customers was temporarily interrupted Friday after a truck traveling with its boom in the air ripped down a fiber optic cable at the intersection of state Routes 7 and 205 in Oneonta.
Skatepark finally on a roll
ONEONTA — Thirteen-year-old Mark Neander crouches down on his skateboard to accelerate as he approaches the concrete parking block.
Area barber a cut above
CHERRY VALLEY - One day about three decades ago, Larry Thompson was thumbing through magazines in the library of the old Cherry Valley Central School and came upon an ad for hair tonic.
Sabedra trial set to start Monday
COOPERSTOWN - The retrial of Andrew F. "Butch" Sabedra, who is charged with two counts of assault, will start Monday with jury selection in Otsego County Court.
Big top plans visit to Delhi
DELHI — The Carson & Barnes Five-Ring Circus, which bills itself as the biggest tent circus in the world, is coming to Delhi on June 22.
County leaders question salaries
If the salaries of Otsego County's workers are to be reviewed, the review won't occur for a few years, because the county and most of its employees are locked into a contract until 2003, according to Carl Higgins, chairman of the Otsego County Board of Representatives.
$1.8M grant will target child abuse cases
The Schoharie Department of Social Services will benefit from $1.8 million in state grants awarded to improve the investigation of child abuse cases.
IDA OKs Upstate Homes bonds
The Otsego County Industrial Development Agency board gave initial approval Thursday to a $5 million bonding issue for the Upstate Homes for Children and Adults.
Friday, June 9, 2000
Local students aren't eager for dress codes
Requiring school uniforms in hopes of subduing student rivalries and boosting grades has won over its first big-city public school district in Philadelphia, but area students and educators disagree on the strategy's usefulness.
Indian bones to be buried
BAINBRIDGE — The remains of a Native American man found during a park wetlands project will be reburied June 17 in a ceremony near the site where he died 2,000 years ago.
Youths hone anti-smoking message
It all centers on youths talking to youths about the dangers of smoking cigarettes.
Three teens from Delaware and Otsego county schools recently attended the New York Anti-Tobacco Youth Advocacy Summit in Catskill.
`Hit' target seeks answers from Otsego DA
UNADILLA — Bill Reeves said was working his usual second shift at Amphenol in Sidney when his boss told him somebody wanted to talk to him. He was taken to a room where several undercover investigators from the state police introduced themselves.
Festival to celebrate dairy farms, town
MEREDITH — The Meredith Dairy Fest, at historic Meridale Farms, is bigger and better this year, according to John Hamilton, chairman.
Power authority gives funds to nine fire, rescue squads
NORTH BLENHEIM — Checks totaling $10,000 were presented Saturday to fire departments and rescue squads that serve the area surrounding the New York Power Authority's Blenheim power project.
Thursday, June 8, 2000
Agent works on the inside
Norman J. O'Neil, 37, is an undercover investigator, part of the state police's Community Narcotics Enforcement Team. It's his job to go into crack houses, make buys and put dealers out of business.
Spitzer: Ex-judge violated rules
ALBANY — A retired state Supreme Court judge who drafted the will of a prominent area businesswoman must pay back more than a half-million dollars to the philanthropic foundation that bears her family's name.
Whatever floats your vessel
HAMDEN — Spectators waved from the DeLancey bridge as the participants in the second annual Hamden Inn Flotilla meandered down the West Branch of the Delaware River on Saturday, bound for Hamden.
Otsego board talks about kids, homeless
COOPERSTOWN - Members of the Otsego County Board of Representatives discussed the plight of some of the county's most vulnerable citizens - children in foster care and homeless people - at Wednesday's meeting.
Oneonta teachers object to `art on a cart' plan
ONEONTA — Art teachers objected Wednesday to the elimination of Center Street Elementary School's art room, bemoaning "art on a cart" instruction that will begin this fall and saying it "sends the wrong message."
Watershed funds to be managed by Cooperstown
COOPERSTOWN - At a special meeting Tuesday, the village of Cooperstown board unanimously agreed to administer funds for the Otsego Lake watershed manager post, rescuing a plan that has been in the works for more than a year.
SUCO, Oneonta address worries about ball camp
ONEONTA — Officials involved in this summer's Cooperstown Baseball World camp at the State University College at Oneonta say steps have been taken to lessen the impact it could have on residents in the area.
Hartwick associate to speak on U.S. Colored Troops at Pa. Convention
ONEONTA — Hartwick College Associate Dean Harry Bradshaw Matthews will be one of the featured presenters at the Civil War Grand Review 2000, slated for Friday through Sunday in Harrisburg, Pa.
K-9 school OK'd
MIDDLEFIELD - The Middlefield Zoning Board of Appeals has turned down a request by two town residents who had hoped to halt construction of a canine dog-training facility on Chicken Farm Hill Road.
CV-S school teachers to protest lack of contract
Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School teachers will gather outside the school today and each Thursday for the remainder of the school year to demonstrate over their lack of a contract, teachers' association President Ed Gnau announced.
Otsego panel to eye solid waste districts
COOPERSTOWN - By an informal vote at the end of Wednesday's meeting, the Otsego County Board of Representatives authorized its Solid Waste Committee to investigate the possibility of forming solid waste districts.
Wednesday, June 7, 2000
Fox puts budget under knife
ONEONTA — Confronted with an unexpected budget deficit during the first four months of this year, A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital on Tuesday announced some belt-tightening measures designed to produce about $1 million in annual savings.
OB/GYN to move into center
ONEONTA — A local obstetrician/gynecologist will move his practice to the FoxCare Center on June 12, A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital announced Tuesday.
OFO to end service
A local agency says changes in federal welfare guidelines and the rising cost of area hotel accommodations are forcing it to discontinue a program for the temporarily homeless.
Opinions mixed on grandparents' rights ruling
A U.S. Supreme Court judgment declaring that parents have a "fundamental right to make decisions concerning the care, custody and control" of their children worried one grandmother and pleased a family court lawyer.
Sidney institutions to take home citizen, business of year awards
SIDNEY — John Woodyshek may have been named Sidney Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year, but he says his crew really deserves the award.
Einhorn relays plans for camp to city council
ONEONTA — June was proclaimed `Baseball Month' by Oneonta Mayor Kim Muller during Tuesday's Common Council meeting at City Hall.
Board hears concerns over K-9 school
MIDDLEFIELD - The Middlefield Zoning Board of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday night on whether a building permit should have been issued to the Clark Foundation to build a state police canine training facility on Chicken Farm Hill Road.
Delaware to release study on welfare reform
Asking former welfare recipients about post-welfare life gives data that can help fight poverty, a local Social Services commissioner said.
Tuesday, June 6, 2000
Veteran seeks fellow D-Day survivors
ONEONTA — D-Day veteran Marino Scorzafava pulls out a yellowed photograph of five navy buddies and points to the man on the end — a young sailor with a confident smile and one knee in the dirt.
Alcohol-related arrests increase
Alcohol-related arrests on college campuses surged 24.3 percent in 1998, the largest jump in seven years, according to a survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Med students discover writers within
COOPERSTOWN — Dr. Richard Bucco found he didn't have time to pen poetry in medical school.
Dinner to help inn fire victims
A potluck supper will be held Saturday to benefit a family of three who lost nearly everything they owned in a fire at the Morris Inn during the weekend.
Man indicted in fatal car crash
DELHI — A Livingston Manor man was indicted Monday in Delaware County Court on seven counts stemming from a fatal car accident.
Firefighters save Trout Creek home; 2 rooms damaged
TROUT CREEK — Firefighters were able to save the home of a Trout Creek woman after a fire broke out in her residence on Mormon Hollow Road on Monday morning, Trout Creek fire officials said.
Sidney hospital workers reject contract offer
SIDNEY — The Hospital workers represented by the Civil Service Employees' Association on Thursday rejected a proposed contract in a 46-34 vote.
Children rewarded for reading 1,000 books
The first two children to complete Otego Elementary School's "1,000 book" program that began more than a year ago graduated Friday.
College names automobile dealer `Citizen of the Year'
ONEONTA — Businessman William K. Davis, a graduate of Hartwick College who has served on boards for the school and community, has been named Citizen of the Year by the Hartwick College Citizens Board.
City, CSEA meet on deal
ONEONTA — The city of Oneonta and the local civil service union will meet again this month to try and hash out a new contract.
Monday, June 5, 2000
A different world
Last year's high school seniors, home from their first year of college, say they found at least some aspect of campus life unexpected, shocking or at the very least, surprising.
All of them say they are going back in the fall.
Blaze guts local inn
MORRIS — In the hours before fire tore through the Morris Inn, a live rock band played a song bartender Daryl Cahill said he hadn't heard in a long time.
Teen helps orchestra rock
DELHI — People were dancing in the halls at Delhi's Delaware Academy on Friday morning as the high school orchestra went through its final practice in preparation for the Tuesday night concert.
Milford may start pre-K program
The Milford Central School district will convene a public forum this month to gauge community interest in a fall pre-kindergarten program, educators said.
State, feds seek Walton E. coli source
The state Department of Agriculture and Markets is investigating the Kraft Foods plant in Walton after E. coli bacteria was found in several samples of cottage cheese made at the plant in April, state officials said Friday.
Laurens again the big winner at band pageant
Band and color guard units from Laurens Central School won eight top awards on Saturday at the Sherburne Pageant of Bands, including the Albert Whitney Overall Achievement award named for the co-founder of the pageant.
Winners
Water demand worries village
COOPERSTOWN - Cooperstown has a nearly inexhaustible supply of drinking water, 9-mile-long Otsego Lake, but last summer, the village had several low-water alerts as its delivery system could not keep up with demand.
Delhi residents may form historical group
DELHI — Delhi doesn't have a local historical group, but a committee of residents may decide to start one.
Group begins improvement project today
STAMFORD — Flowers, flags and banners will adorn Stamford's Main Street because of the dedicated efforts of the Stamford Village Improvement Association.
Saturday, June 3, 2000
State will evaluate traffic on Southside
ONEONTA — A state-funded traffic study of Oneonta's Southside corridor on state routes 23 and 28 is expected to begin this summer.
Local man survives lightning strike
ONEONTA — On Friday, West Oneonta resident Ellen Morley gained new respect for the power of lightning.
Former coach dies
LeRoy "Lee" William Hasey, longtime coach and teacher at Jefferson Central School, died Thursday evening of a massive heart attack at the school's softball and baseball athletic banquet. He was 51.
Otsego exceeding garbage quota so far
COOPERSTOWN - In contrast to last year, figures for the first four months of 2000 show that Otsego County is delivering more garbage than expected to the Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Management Authority.
Friday, June 2, 2000
4-year-old faces long recovery
PITTSFIELD - Four-year-old Tiffany Kennerkencht wants to leave the hospital, but she may be there most of the summer, according to her older brother, David Lorette.
E. coli detected in local product
Kraft Foods recalled 11,000 cases of Breakstone's and Light N' Lively cottage cheese Thursday that were manufactured at the company's Walton plant after federal officials found E. coli bacteria in several samples.
Local test scores rising
The second round of results from the state's new fourth-grade English test show all but three area school districts improving their scores, according to data released by the state Education Department on Thursday.
Mission to Africa: Students to minister in Johannesburg
ONEONTA — Cherraine Perkins and Francesca Card are on a mission.
On Tuesday, the two college students will fly to South Africa to begin nine weeks of Salvation Army missionary work in Johannesburg.
Governments may get OK to ban Jetskis
ALBANY — The state Assembly on Thursday overwhelming passed legislation that would allow local governments to ban the use of personal watercraft.
SUCO alumni to honor five
ONEONTA — Hundreds of alumni, their families and friends are expected at the State University College at Oneonta campus today for Reunion Weekend 2000.
Blood draws to stop at Otego clinic
The retirement of a longtime staff member will mean patients at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital's health clinic in Otego will have to make the trip to Oneonta for blood draws.
Watershed panel plans to interview manager hopefuls
COOPERSTOWN - A committee charged with selecting an Otsego Lake watershed manager plans to meet Monday at the Cooperstown village offices to interview candidates, said Jason Mulford, district field manager of the Otsego County Soil and Water District.
Thursday, June 1, 2000
Area may see drop in tourism numbers
COOPERSTOWN - The summer forecast calls for lots of tourists in Cooperstown but perhaps not as many as last year, according to Polly Renckens, executive director of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce.
Child's play: Pediatrician receives honor
A local pediatrician has recently been recognized for her work as a physician and public health researcher.
Pentacles owner set to close up head shop
After eight years of running Pentacles New Age Shoppe, owner Brett Percy is leaving the head-shop business.
Oneonta to begin roadwork soon
ONEONTA — The city of Oneonta will begin reconstructing Central Avenue and Ivy Court next week, city engineering officials said.
City plans to replace rescue pumper truck
ONEONTA — The city of Oneonta Fire Department plans to replace an aging fire truck.
The city Common Council is scheduled to approve the $327,300 purchase during its next regular meeting Tuesday. Aldermen will vote to bond for $150,000 toward the cost of the vehicle.
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