Mercury: It's still winter
ONEONTA — What a difference a day can make. The barbecue grill that sat on a Maple Street lawn Wednesday looked out of place as snow showers, kicked up by a biting wind, fell around it. A day earlier, though, that grill likely served its purpose, as unseasonably warm temperatures gave people a reason to enjoy a taste of spring and, perhaps, a burger or two.
Spaghetti supper to benefit firefighters
COOPERSTOWN - Spaghetti and sauce will be served starting at 6 p.m. Thursday to benefit the Firemen's Fellowship Fund. "We just thought it's a good cause and this would be a good thing to do," said Ted Hargrove, who owns TJ's Place.
Fire damages plaque foundry
Fire damaged a foundry at the corner of state Route 10 and county Route 33 in Bloomville Wednesday afternoon.
Home-school policy gives, takes away
ONEONTA — Home-schooled students should be allowed to use school facilities and participate in activities, parents of home-instructed students said during the Oneonta school board meeting Wednesday.
Otsego sends out garbage bills today
COOPERSTOWN - Today, Otsego County is sending out its annual bills for disposing of garbage. This year's solid waste user fee, $27 per household, is the same as last year's and is expected to generate about $1,045,000.
United Way lowers fund-raising goal
The United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties has lowered its 2002 fund-raising goal by $25,000 so that it may concentrate instead on beefing up its staff, organization officials said this week.
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Delaware has 911
SIDNEY — After seven years of work, sweeping address changes, delays, bugs and bumps in the road, Delaware County has its emergency 911 system. County Emergency Services Director Nelson Delameter announced the system's formal start Tuesday at the State Police Troop C station in Sidney. The station will be used as the answering point for 911 calls.
Teacher strikes a key note at school
Herb Garman has been instrumental in forming the musical program at Milford Central School. That's what teachers, students and officials at that school say. With that in mind, when Garman, who has been a music instructor at the school for 33 years, retires in June, they're making sure he won't be forgotten.
Board to vote on home-schooled policy
ONEONTA — Members of the Oneonta City School District Board of Education will vote on the first reading of the Home Instruction Policy at their regular meeting Wednesday night, district officials said.
Man pleads guilty to DWI, vehicular manslaughter
COOPERSTOWN - A Worcester man pleaded guilty in Otsego County Court on Tuesday to second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor.
LWV forum focuses on international trade
ONEONTA — The economic benefits and pitfalls of international trade were discussed Tuesday during an Oneonta League of Women Voters forum in Oneonta.
Shaffer statement filed in time, judge says
COOPERSTOWN - Vicky Shaffer was prepared to spend the day in Otsego County Court on Tuesday, but a hearing related to the charge against her didn't materialize.
Tuesday, February 26, 2002
Boehlert: House forgetting small farms
NORWICH - The deck is stacked against small farmers in the Northeast, as conferees from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate prepare to work out a compromise farm bill, according to Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford. In recent weeks, the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate have passed different farm bills, which the conference is designed to resolve.
Sidney girl gets inside look at D.C.
A Sidney High School student said she gained political knowledge, a bolstered sense of confidence and expanded horizons, thanks to participation in the Presidential Classroom Scholar's Program.
Indictment from 1996 opened
DELHI — A man whose arraignment was five years overdue pleaded innocent in Delaware County Court on Monday to sexual-abuse charges.
Man gets 25 years for attempted murder
DELHI — A Hancock man will spend the next 25 years of his life in state prison after being convicted of attempted murder.
State grants given to Otsego schools
Otsego County schools have received $335,000 in state grants to help offset losses from the state's baseline budget, Sen. James L. Seward announced at a press conference at Cooperstown High School on Monday.
Some residents oppose proposed town in Sidney Center
Several Sidney Center residents opposed to the planned construction of a communications tower near their homes said they will protest the project at tonight's Sidney school board meeting.
After 15 years, site still toxic
In 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency placed the Richardson Hill landfill in the town of Sidney on the nation's hazardous waste priorities list. Now, 15 years later, it's still toxic as the cleanup process lags — just like at the area's other federal Superfund waste sites.
Area students seen and heard
Some people fear it, but these kids love it. About 25 of 70 students from eight schools walked away from a local speech competition with first-, second- and third-place prizes.
Schenevus to get award Friday
Schenevus Central School this week will receive one of the seven 2002 Pathfinder Awards being presented in separate ceremonies to schools that showed the most improvement on tests scores.
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Forum to address rebirth on Main Street
A Sullivan County planning official will speak on economic development and Main Street revitalization next week at an invitation-only forum sponsored by state Sen. James L. Seward, R-Milford.
Case of the mystery gravestone solved
DAVENPORT — A gravestone discovered in Davenport several years ago is not the final resting place of the soldier for whom it was carved.
DEP claims success in watershed
A summary of work done in the Catskill watershed area over the past five years was submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review last month by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Saturday, February 23, 2002
Sex abuser gets max
COOPERSTOWN - During an emotional session in Otsego County Court on Friday, Judge Brian Burns sentenced Daniel Harp of Franklin to 14 years in prison for sexually molesting his two stepdaughters. Harp, 38, was convicted last month of two counts of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.
Electoral problems need attention, officials say
COOPERSTOWN - Most elections commissioners around New York believe that electoral practices in the state need to be improved, according to Douglas Hamilton, Otsego County's Republican elections commissioner.
Grand Gorge firehouse plans advance
A final set of plans for an 8,000-square-foot firehouse and community center in Grand Gorge is in the last design phase, according to project engineers.
Area group spreads word of Slow Food
COOPERSTOWN - In this hectic world, where people with cell phones strapped to their heads and beepers in their back pockets have Pop Tarts for breakfast and race to the nearest drive-in window for lunch, the Slow Food movement offers an alternative:
Unadilla Oks OFO shelter for homeless
Opportunities For Otsego has been given the green light to operate a temporary homeless shelter in the village of Unadilla.
Oneonta may change zoning in neighborhood
ONEONTA — The city is considering a zoning change designed to reduce the number of unruly students living in one of its neighborhoods.
Friday, February 22, 2002
Students: It was no Gilligan's Island
ONEONTA — Students who went to Hartwick College's January Term biology program in Madagascar got a little more than they bargained for. A monthlong trip to study the unique flora and fauna of the island nation off the coast of Africa turned into a frustrating adventure involving canceled flights, "carnival-like" protests and a two-mile walk through a monsoon. "We are so used to being able to do things when we want," said Hartwick President Richard Detweiler, during a news conference Thursday afternoon. "You lived through a situation that is not uncommon in most places in the world but uncommon in most of our lives."
Poverty stays as welfare goes
ONEONTA — Otsego County's welfare roll may have decreased 80 percent since 1994, but most formerly assisted families and individuals can now be considered "working poor," an Opportunities For Otsego official said at a conference Thursday. "Welfare has definitely gone away, but poverty in Otsego County has not," said OFO Deputy Director Gary Herzig, speaking on the topic of nationwide welfare reform, which was implemented five years ago.
Teen sips cup of success
For 17-year-old Alexis Saba, opening a coffeehouse for her town's young people was necessary — something that had to be done. But for her efforts, Saba, a senior at Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, was given an award for being a top volunteer in New York state. "I was very surprised," Saba said Wednesday. "There must have been a million wonderful projects going on."
Drought may put growing season in danger
If all else fails, it may be time to pray for rain. If there is no increase in precipitation soon, Walton weather observer Frank Ward said, people will start to see the effects of the drought that has plagued this area for more than a year. "As soon as the growing season begins," around the end of March, "things will dry up pretty quickly" unless there is a change in rain or snowfall, he said.
LWV to study area criminal justice system
The Oneonta chapter of the League of Women Voters is investigating the local criminal justice system as part of a statewide study to develop informed political positions. LWV's Criminal Justice Study Committee will interview law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and relevant agencies to determine if racial and/or economic factors impact the arrest of individuals.
Foreign policy focus of forum
ONEONTA — The Oneonta League of Women Voters will play host to a forum Tuesday on United States international trade policy issues.
The Cupboard will soon be bare
COOPERSTOWN - The door to The Cupboard on Main Street in Cooperstown will close for the last time in mid-March, owner James Tongue said Wednesday. The popular gift, card, magazine and newspaper store has been in business nearly 50 years, and Tongue, who will be 62 in June, has decided to call it a career.
Oneonta police look into thefts
ONEONTA — Oneonta city police are investigating a reported burglary on Center Street. A man reported that between 9:30 and 10:10 p.m. on Feb. 11, someone entered his apartment and stole a DVD player valued at $175; more than 10 video games worth between $15 and $50 each; a SONY Playstation II worth $320; and a pair of sneakers valued at $75.
Thursday, February 21, 2002
Brothers rebuild family farm
Looking out through her sliding glass doors, Laurie Johnsen of Otego said she can see the Sheldon family farm operating again, thanks to her two brothers. It's been more than a year since Charles J. Sheldon of Otego died of cardiac arrest after trying to rescue animals from a fire that destroyed the family dairy farm. Now two of his sons have rebuilt the operation from the ashes. "There are easier ways to make a living," said Mark Sheldon, 42, one of the brothers responsible for the rebirth. But farming, he said, is "just in your blood."
N.Y. censures obstetrician
A doctor who abruptly left Walton two years ago was censured this month for actions that left six maternity patients without prenatal care. The New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct issued Dr. Moheb Khouzam a reprimand and censure Feb. 11 for his misconduct.
Otsego set to study county political divisions
COOPERSTOWN - Otsego County's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will soon begin to study how to reapportion the 14 districts of the county's Board of Representatives, according to IGA Chairman Ronald Feldstein, D-Otego. "We need to have this done in time for the 2003 local elections," said Feldstein. "The state is working on this now, but they have to be ready by June. We have more time to work on it, but it's something we need to do."
'Wick U.N. experience 'incredible'
ONEONTA — Sharpened public speaking, analytical and interpersonal skills were a few of the benefits Hartwick College students said they gained from participation in last week's Harvard National Model United Nations gathering in Boston. "It was one of the best experiences I've had since I've been at Hartwick," said sophomore Nancy Wheeler, a political science major.
Downtown dance-club plan off the floor
ONEONTA — Architectural plans for a night spot on Market Street have changed again — this time to put construction of a proposed dance club on the back burner. Oneonta businessman Efren U. Rivera told city of Oneonta Planning Commission members Wednesday that immediate plans for the former Oneonta Sales Co. building on Market Street no longer include the construction of the 6,000-square-foot dance club, which had been a recent point of concern with the commission.
Sheriff, clerk to run again
COOPERSTOWN - Otsego County Sheriff Donald Mundy and Otsego County Clerk Brian Carso plan to seek re-election to their posts this year. The two positions, sheriff and clerk, are the only countywide races that will be on the November ballot this year.
Fire leaves family cold
CHERRY VALLEY - A family of nine escaped when their home on Campbell Road in Cherry Valley burned down last week, but they lost nearly all their possessions in the blaze. Their possessions were not insured, said Martin Farnelli, 46. Now he, his wife, Patricia, and seven of their eight children are staying at K.C.'s Corner Restaurant and Motel on state Route 20 in East Springfield, while looking for a house or farm to rent.
Shots in low supply
Area health care providers reported shortages of various childhood vaccines Monday but said the problem isn't severe enough yet to cause problems. Nationwide, officials from the Centers for Disease Control have reported shortages in the measles, mumps and rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, chicken pox and pneumococcal vaccines.
Otsdawa dam just too holey, Otego nuns say
OTEGO — The town of Otego has answered the prayers of nuns who have faith that an Otsdawa Creek dam can be restored to its former glory. "It's in very bad condition," said Mother Raphaela of the Holy Myrrhbearers. "It's a miracle it's still standing." Otego town officials said Tuesday the town will help the Holy Myrrhbearers, five nuns who live in on Bert Washburn Road in Otego, raise money to fix the 200-year-old dam on the women's 150-acre property.
Council OKs permit for homeless shelter
ONEONTA — Opponents of the planned homeless shelter in Oneonta's Sixth Ward spoke out against the project Tuesday in what appeared to be their last opportunity for public comment on the project. Aldermen approved issuing a five-year special use permit to Opportunities For Otsego for operation of the shelter on Depew Street.
Man charged with trying to kill girlfriend
A Summit man is being held without bail after he allegedly stabbed and tried to kill his girlfriend and another man early Tuesday morning, state police at Loudonville said.
Police: Gun found near remains
A rifle was near skeletal remains found Saturday in Oneonta and its presence increases the likelihood the death was a suicide, an investigator said Tuesday.
Grand jury indicts in sex abuse case
DELHI — A 69-year-old South Kortright man was indicted Tuesday by a Delaware County grand jury on 28 charges in a sexual abuse case.
Benefit dinner raises more than $3,000
DELHI — A sold-out spaghetti dinner at the Delhi American Legion last week raised more than $3,000 for a Meridale teen. "We sold close to 500 dinners," organizer Raymond Seyforth said. "At the end of the night we turned people away because we were out of food." On Tuesday, Seyforth presented the $3,112 check to Matt Ladlee, a 17-year-old Delaware Academy junior suffering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a form of cancer.
Homeowner pledges to fight to live on land
ALBANY — Chenango Lake homeowner Douglas Caesar said he's going to fight a court ruling that could limit the use of his waterfront home to summers only.
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Local goat cheese featured in D.C.
Word of mouth helped put Franklin-made cheese in the mouths of some influential people in Washington, D.C., last week. A soft goat cheese called chevre, made at Linda Smith's Sherman Hill Farmstead in Franklin, was among the items gracing the tables of a reception for members of Congress held in the nation's Capitol on Wednesday.
Hartwick examines priorities
ONEONTA — Hartwick College will examine its faculty costs, academic programs, athletic programs, student services and other expenditures to form strategies to bring spending in line with comparable colleges, officials said.
Bassett group reports on funds, goals
COOPERSTOWN — Friends of Bassett raised about $5.3 million in 2001 to support regional initiatives of Bassett Healthcare, officials said, and five members have joined the Friends board of directors.
Otsego computers plugged in
PHOENIX MILLS - After years of planning and months of training, Otsego County's computer-aided dispatch system is now being used by the Otsego County Communications Department.
Hey, go jump in a lake
More than 70 people plunged through a hole in the ice on Goodyear Lake on Saturday to raise money for three area residents.
Landowner loses seasonal residency case
ALBANY — Summer shouldn't include November, December and January when it comes to a Chenango Lake homeowner on land reserved for seasonal use, a state appeals court ruled.
UCCCA grants aim to support arts learning
ONEONTA — Nine projects to help integrate art with other subjects recently got a boost from the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts.
Monday, February 18, 2002
Cheating scandal couldn't happen here, teachers say
Laurens biology teacher Will White is well aware that cheating has gone high-tech, but he says he's convinced his students will not make the same mistake students in Piper, Kan., made. White says he is confident his students will not cheat on an upcoming long-term science research project.
Hartwick students come home
After spending about two weeks stranded in Madagascar, 19 Hartwick College students and a professor in a study-abroad program returned to the United States safely Sunday morning. "I'm finally home," said recent graduate Rory Post from his house in Patterson on Sunday evening.
Human bones found in city
ONEONTA — Skeletal remains found in Oneonta on Saturday have been tentatively identified as a New Rochelle man missing since 1995 when he was in the area visiting his family, state police at Oneonta said.
Walton teens 'converse' with leaders
DELHI — Two Walton High School seniors voiced the concerns and interests of Delaware County teen-agers at a 4-H-sponsored statewide "conversation" last month.
Area schools advance in OM
ONEONTA — About 500 area children competed in this year's regional competition for the international Odyssey of the Mind program Saturday at the State University College at Oneonta's Hunt Union.
School feared dead still bustling with children
LEONARDSVILLE - When the Mount Markham school board decided to close its elementary school in Leonardsville at the end of the last school year, many people were upset.
Narrowed field not a surprise to prison towns
The news from state Sen. Thomas Libous on Thursday that a proposed youth maximum- security facility will be located in either Bainbridge or Walton did not come as a surprise to local officials for and against the project Sunday.
Saturday, February 16, 2002
Hartwick honors basketball star
ONEONTA — Former Hartwick College basketball star Timothy O'Brien, who was killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, was remembered by his family, coaches and teammates during a ceremony Friday at the college. O'Brien's team jersey No. 12 was presented to his widow, Lisa, at the ceremony during halftime of the Hartwick-Rochester Institute of Technology men's basketball game.
Project could cost more
COOPERSTOWN — The price tag on Otsego County's proposed nursing home has increased, representatives said Friday, and local taxpayers could pay nearly $8 million more than was originally expected.
Stars and Stripes bargain
When Peggy Smith of Cherry Valley purchased an antique flag at an auction a few years back, she got much more than she bargained for.
Lawmakers: Districts not set yet
ALBANY — Republican Assemblyman Clifford Crouch of Bainbridge shouldn't pack moving boxes just yet, but he might want to plan on a few months of playing along with Assembly Democrats.
Lions Club, community rally for Delaware Valley Hospital
Delaware Valley Hospital has $100,000 to spend on medical equipment, thanks to a matching grant from the Lions Club International Foundation, officials of the Walton hospital said.
Pupils: Senator, what is your job?
ONEONTA — Politicians are used to being grilled on the tough issues. But not about the architecture at the Capitol Building.
Friday, February 15, 2002
Area Newfie wins at Westminster Dog Show
COOPERSTOWN - A local dog was a big winner this week at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City. Champion Toad Hall's Field of Dreams, a 3-year-old Newfoundland owned by Randy VanSyoc and Allen Ransome of the town of Otsego, was selected best of breed Monday.
Redistricting plan may oust Crouch
ALBANY — Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Bainbridge, gets booted out of Otsego and Delaware counties but Cooperstown gains Albany clout under state redistricting plans announced Thursday. There would be a new senator for Norwich but future Assembly representation for much of Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Chenango counties remains a mystery. It's all part of a once-in-a-decade process steeped in politics.
Assemblyman says he's not worried
SIDNEY — Longtime Bainbridge resident state Assemblyman Clifford Crouch received the news by mail Thursday morning that he might not be representing his hometown in the near future. Crouch said he received the maps by express mail showing plans by the Democratic-controlled state Assembly to redraw the lines of the 122nd District to exclude Chenango County. Other districts around the state are also being redrawn. Reached for comment Thursday at the Sidney Chamber of Commerce's annual legislative luncheon, Crouch said he was "not getting excited at this time."
Cigarette sting prompts local response
Several chain stores with Oneonta locations have increased efforts against selling tobacco products to minors following undercover sting operations led by the state attorney general's office. After Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's investigation showed that Hannaford had a failure rate of 33.3 percent in a 2000 study, the store implemented new programs and a task force, Hannaford Bros. Co. spokesperson Caren Epstein said Thursday.
Libous: Youth prison will be sited locally
SIDNEY — Walton and Bainbridge are the only two locations being considered as the site for a proposed maximum security juvenile detention center, state Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, told the audience at a legislative luncheon in Sidney on Thursday. But, he cautioned, with other economic demands, "I'm not sure the capital money is in the budget" this year.
Appeals court rules Mower must serve life
Richfield Springs murderer Gordon "Woody" Mower Jr. must serve the life sentence to which he agreed, the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday, even though a subsequent court ruling found that much of the plea deal process in capital cases is unconstitutional.
Board to address ambulance contract
WEST ONEONTA — The Oneonta Town Board will vote on a final draft of a proposed contract between the town and city of Oneonta for ambulance coverage in March, town Supervisor Duncan Davie said. The town board authorized preparation of the contract, which would provide for city ambulance coverage to the town through 2004, on Wednesday.
Davenport town justice overpaid by supervisor
A local law allowing payment to a Davenport justice will be discussed at a public hearing March 4. Supervisor Todd Rider said he gave Justice Herman Riese six months' salary that was not originally in his contract. "I didn't know going into it that it needed a local law," he said Thursday. "I did it on my own, and I shouldn't have done it."
Puppets, singers to perform in opera at Hartwick College
ONEONTA — A classical chamber opera will be performed next weekend as singers, musicians, puppeteers and actors converge in a play within a play at Hartwick College. Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's "El Retablo de Maese Pedro," or "Master Peter's Puppet Show," will be presented at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Feb 22 and at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Feb. 23.
Otego boards work to finish zoning plan
OTEGO — There will be at least two more public hearings before a zoning plan is passed in Otego, a town official said Wednesday. Estimates of when a final plan will be adopted range from March until June, local officials said in conversations Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday, February 14, 2002
Living on love
A lasting marriage is the fruit that stems from compatibility, compassion, consideration, compromise and commitment, said three Oneonta couples celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss. In honor of Valentine's Day, secrets to a successful union were shared by these pairs who said their love has never faltered. Mutual respect is key, agreed Molly and William Swain III of Oneonta, who celebrated their golden anniversary last fall.
Senate passes Dems' farm bill
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate passed an election-year farm bill Wednesday that boosts subsidies for grain and cotton growers and doubles spending on conservation programs.
Schumer hails 'breakthrough'
The farm bill passed by the U.S. Senate is "the first really good thing we've had for northeast agriculture in decades," Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said after lawmakers approved it on Wednesday.
Show changes few opinions on 'black list'
Some in Oneonta remember the infamous September 1992 "black list" investigation as a necessary means of tracking down an alleged perpetrator. Others look back on it as nothing less than a glaring example of racial profiling.
Camps may pay bed tax
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County Board of Representatives wants to expand the county's 2 percent occupancy tax to include players and coaches who come to local youth baseball camps and stay here for days at a time in dormitories.
Delaware OKs $20,000 microphone system
DELHI — The Delaware County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution at its meeting Wednesday to buy a $20,000 wireless microphone system for its boardroom.
Reps: Proposal blurs lines on road safety
COOPERSTOWN - Otsego County's Highway and Forestry Committee is considering a proposal to stop painting white lines down the edges of some secondary roads in an effort to save money.
Pataki budget includes higher STAR income cap
ALBANY — The state's School Tax Relief program for homeowners will continue much as it has under Gov. George Pataki's 2002-03 budget plan, but seniors nearing the maximum income level for an additional break could get a reprieve.
Sidney looks at parking issues
SIDNEY — After several months of discussions, Sidney village trustees are expected to decide soon on how to address residential parking problems, local officials said Monday.
Taxes up in schoo budget proposal
ONEONTA — Spending will go up 1.17 percent and taxes will increase 7.46 percent, according to preliminary budget figures presented by Oneonta City School District officials at a meeting Wednesday night.
Seward announced grants for seven schools
ONEONTA — The Oneonta City School District will receive a $75,000 grant from the state to help complete a computer networking project, Sen. James L. Seward, R-Milford, said during a news conference in the library at Oneonta's Riverside Elementary School on Wednesday.
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
SUNY chief: We're broke
ALBANY — The State University of New York chancellor warned state lawmakers on Tuesday that the university system's "cupboard is bare" and requested an aid boost of nearly $125 million to cover union contracts and help community colleges. "There are no reserves remaining," Chancellor Robert King told members of the state Assembly and Senate during a hearing on Gov. George Pataki's proposed $88.6 billion budget.
Danger of domestic calls increasingly real, cops say
Domestic dispute complaints are some of the most dangerous calls police answer because of the unpredictable behavior of victims and offenders, local officers said Tuesday.
Program puts troopers in 2 schools
Two area schools are participating in a program that has assigned state troopers to work in 63 districts for the next four years, local officials said Tuesday.
Hartwick man cooks up chef of the year award
MILFORD - Thomas Blaske of Hartwick has the ingredients to be the best, according to the American Culinary Federation's capital district central New York chapter, which named him chef of the year.
Struggle for 911 calls heats up
ALBANY — A group of New York's largest emergency services organizations wants the state to back off its control of cellular 911 calls and expedite new technology it says will save lives.
Chinese residents welcome new year
Mindy Zhang of Cooperstown wished everyone wealth, health and happiness on Tuesday in honor of the Chinese New Year.
Lincoln's birthday closes county offices
Schoharie and Otsego County office workers took a break Tuesday for Lincoln's Birthday and offices were closed, while Delaware and Chenango offices remained open.
Challenger puts right foot forward in race
ONEONTA — New Hartford businessman Rodger Potocki will run on a conservative Republican platform in his campaign to upset Congressman Sherwood Boehlert in the Sept. 10 Republican primary.
Plan could spur Sidney project
SIDNEY — A plan being prepared might allow the Sherwood Heights redevelopment project in Sidney to advance, state and local officials said Monday.
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
Students stand behind Olympian
GILBERTSVILLE — Some second- and third-graders at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School received a very important phone call last week. Jimmy Shea Jr., a member of the U.S. Olympic Skeleton Team, called the students at school and spoke to them for 15 minutes about dreams, his sport and school. "When he called we could barely do our math," said 8-year-old Nick Sebeck, explaining how excited he was to hear from the third-generation Olympic player.
City considers restrictions for summer leasing
ONEONTA — A complaint involving the leasing of summer rentals to Cooperstown Baseball World families has prompted city officials to consider enforcing lower occupancy numbers. The future could also include opening up the process to public hearings, city officials said.
Boehlert will face challenge in Nov.
ONEONTA - A conservative Republican businessman from New Hartford said Monday that he plans to challenge Rep. Sherwood Boehlert in November for the 23rd congressional seat.
Hartwick books ship for stranded students
ONEONTA — The 19 Hartwick College students and one professor stranded in Madagascar may take a 108-passenger cruise ship out of the country, college officials said Monday.
Audit finds Andes overpaid employees
An audit of Andes released Monday by the state comptroller's office turned up two overpayments and several accounting violations.
Novella: N.Y. needs bio-terror funding
ALBANY — The state's health commissioner said Monday she's worried about another wave of bioterrorism, and plans to push for a $15 million expansion of the state's central research laboratory so that New York is prepared.
Plant to add jobs sooner
HOBART — A local pharmaceutical plant is a year ahead of schedule in a four-year plan to nearly double its work force, company managers said last week. The Tyco Healthcare/Mallinckrodt plant in Hobart has 440 employees, officials said, up from 300 in spring 2000 when a $62.5 million expansion project was announced. "The marketing growth has come faster as we've picked up additional business," plant manager James A. Walter said last week.
Mild flu season nearing peak, area experts say
With an increasing number of cases in the last several weeks, the flu season is nearing its peak, local and national health officials reported. The season as a whole, however, has been relatively mild, they said.
Tyco woes won't hit here — officials
HOBART — As Tyco International Ltd. wrestles with a soft economy while trying to pull off a major breakup, layoffs and other measures are not expected to have a negative impact on the local plant, according to company officials.
Arts group grants awardsbright
He has had plays produced in Los Angeles and Australia. Now, thanks to a recent local grant, a Margaretville playwright will soon be starting on a work to be staged in Delaware County in 2003.
Hamden man dies in crash
A 1997 Downsville Central School graduate died Sunday morning when he lost control of his vehicle, state police at Margaretville said.
Juvenile prison foes still meeting
About 35 people attended an informational session Saturday about a proposed secure youth facility in Bainbridge, a group official said Sunday.
College to remember fallen star
ONEONTA — A former Hartwick College basketball star who died in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center will be remembered during a ceremony Friday at the college.
Saturday, February 9, 2002
Criminal charges dismissed
COOPERSTOWN - Criminal charges against Daniel and Rosemary Greene, who took a 2-year-old boy from his mother and kept him for about 14 years, have been dismissed. Daniel Greene, the boy's father, and his wife had been charged with first-degree custodial interference, a felony. But on Friday, the Otsego County grand jury report contained no indictment of the Greenes, who live in Newbury, Mass. Instead, the report read that the grand jury had dismissed the charges. The decision, handed up Friday, ends the prosecution's case, Otsego County District Attorney William "Jack" Gibbons said Friday morning.
Pride of New York is growing locally
Richard and Susan Ball take pride in the carrots, potatoes, pumpkins and other produce grown on their 200-acre farm in Schoharie. So the Balls, who own Schoharie Valley Farm, and farmers across the state are taking part of "The Pride of New York," a program that stamps locally grown products with an emblem.
Flight for students canceled — officials
ONEONTA — The Sunday flight that 19 Hartwick College students and a professor stranded in Madagascar for a week were planning to take home has been canceled, college officials announced Friday. Air France canceled the flight because of lack of ground crew at the Madagascar airport, said David Bachner, director of the Sondhi Limthongkul Center for Interdependence, which coordinates Hartwick's international programs.
Owner to offer stores rent-free
An owner of three vacant stores on Main Street in Hobart said he plans to offer the spaces rent free for a year. Don Dales, owner of the stores said he is looking for entrepreneurs or existing businesses dealing with books or publishing.
Grand jury indicts three
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County grand jury handed up indictments against three people Friday.
United Way meets one goal, aims for another
ONEONTA — It was a challenging but successful campaign year for the United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, which surpassed its goal of $330,000, officials said this week. A 2001 campaign celebration reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Agora at Hartwick College in Oneonta.
Months after drug bust, authorities battling on
ONEONTA—One man remains to be sentenced for his role in a crack cocaine ring that resulted in a May 2000 drug bust — the largest Otsego and Delaware counties had ever seen. Diogenes Rosario, a.k.a. "D," will be sentenced on Feb. 22 at the Federal Building in Binghamton. He is expected to receive a stiff, 30-year sentence, law enforcement officials said this week. Rosario was one of the kingpins in the two-county drug ring that resulted in two federal indictments charging 38 New York residents with conspiring to sell and distribute crack-cocaine.
Rep urges SUNY students to lobby
ONEONTA — The chairman of the state Assembly's Higher Education Committee is urging students to lobby against Gov. George Pataki's no-growth budget for the State University of New York. "Contact legislators and the governor and let them know as clearly and dramatically as possible what your needs are," Edward C. Sullivan, D-Manhattan, said Thursday at a State University College at Oneonta forum.
SUCO ads honored
ONEONTA — The State University College at Oneonta recently received three top honors in the 2002 Admissions Advertising Awards, including a gold award for its admissions viewbook.
Delaware jail drawing released
DELHI — A computer rendering of the Delaware County jail, which will be located at the end of Phoebe Lane in Delhi, was released by the sheriff Wednesday. The facility will consist of three buildings, a public-safety building for department offices, a multi-bay garage and a 100-cell housing unit — totaling approximately 111,000 square feet.
Sidney wrestler retains lawyer
SIDNEY — The Sidney High School senior arrested Jan. 29 for allegedly choking a freshman at the school appeared in Sidney Village Court on Tuesday to inform the court he has retained a lawyer.
Officials: 'Wick group should fly home Sunday
ONEONTA — Hartwick College officials said Thursday they are optimistic that the 19 students and one professor stranded in Madagascar will fly home Sunday.
Police look into car theft
ONEONTA — City of Oneonta police are investigating a report that a car was stolen from a local automobile dealership.
SUCO film series to focus on life in Muslim world
ONEONTA — A series of 12 films that illustrate the diversity of cultures, conditions and concerns of people across the Muslim world will be shown beginning Monday at the State University College at Oneonta.
Thursday, February 7, 2002
Three young Riverside poets published
ONEONTA — Three pupils at Riverside Elementary School turned words into publishable poetry. Second-graders Mandy Chamberlain, Nicole Shuck and Abby Zulkowsky, were presented certificates by Ed Bramsen, published poet and school custodian, during an assembly at the school Friday. Works by the three students selected will be featured in the "Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans," school officials said.
Otsego, troopers battle for E-911 rights
COOPERSTOWN - A dispute over whether emergency 911 calls should go to Otsego County dispatchers or state police dispatchers is headed for the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, according to Otsego County Attorney James Konstanty.
Oneonta looking for school renovation bids
ONEONTA — The Oneonta City School District is going to begin looking for bids for a Valleyview Elementary School renovation project, school officials said at Wednesday night's board of education meeting.
College: Stranded students closer to coming home
ONEONTA — Hartwick College officials said Wednesday they are progressing in their attempts to bring home 19 students stranded in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa.
Waste water plant being upgraded
DELHI — A three-stage, $7.5 million project at the Delhi Village Waste Water Treatment Plant is on schedule to be running this May, plant officials said.
Otsego may force garbage to MOSA
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County Board of Representatives is examining whether it should reinstitute "flow control," thereby ordering that all garbage collected within the county be taken to the Montgomery Otsego Schoharie Solid Waste Management Authority.
Walton civil servant wins lawsuit against board
WALTON — Walton's town election coordinator has won her lawsuit against the Walton Town Board. A small claims court judge on Friday ruled in favor of Theresa Valada, who sued the board for $257.50.
Town clerk resigns in Hartwick
HARTWICK - Joanne Telfer, Hartwick town clerk, said Wednesday night that she resigned from her post Friday. Telfer said she resigned because the town board was upset with her because she signed town Supervisor Carol Niedzialkowski's name to a grant application. The application was to the state archives, she said. Telfer, who had been town clerk for nearly seven years, said the application was similar to one she prepared many times. "I signed her name and forgot to initial after it. It was my mistake and I take full responsibility for it," she said.
Senator: N.Y. schools will get millions more in aid
ALBANY — A high-ranking Senate Republican on Wednesday said he's confident that New York's history of record increases for education spending will continue this year — despite Gov. George Pataki's flat-line school-aid proposal.
Wednesday, February 6, 2002
Hartwick students, staff stuck in Madagascar
ONEONTA — Nineteen Hartwick College students in a study-abroad program have been stranded since Saturday in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa. College officials said Tuesday they have been in close contact with the group — which includes a professor and a 1993 Hartwick graduate — and are working through U.S. diplomatic channels to get the students home as soon as possible. The students do not appear to be in any immediate danger, officials said.
Muller pushes shelter forward
ONEONTA — It was more than an hour of deja vu for many of those who packed Oneonta's City Hall on Tuesday for a public hearing on the proposed homeless shelter in the Sixth Ward. For the second time in nearly a year, Mayor Kim Muller affixed her signature to three zoning ordinances that could make way for the estimated $630,000 Opportunities For Otsego shelter on Depew Street. And for the second time, arguments both for and against the project were heard and became part of the public record.
Book follows old local trail
A winding, 90-mile dirt road that contributed much to the history of Delaware, Schoharie and Greene counties became fertile ground for a local author two years ago.
Manufacturer's expansion may create jobs
ONEONTA — A local porcelain firm's recent extension of its product line may increase jobs and lead to a plant expansion, spurring a rebound from late-1990s shrinkage, company officials said.
Rapist released, returned to jail
DELHI — A 31-year-old sex offender was released to the Delaware County Sheriff's Office from state prison Friday but wasn't out for long. James L. Graham had gone across the street to fill out release paperwork at the Department of Social Services where he began fondling himself, deputies said. Graham was immediately charged with violating his parole and was returned to county jail to await a hearing.
Handbook aims to aid cell-phone tower regulation
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County Planning Department has published a handbook to help communities regulate the placement of cellular towers, which have begun appear in many areas.
Tuesday, February 5, 2002
UCCCA studying community groups
Area social groups with a commitment to community are being studied by a local folklorist and historian through a project by the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts. Folklorist Ellen Damsky and historian Linda Norris plan to look at the traditions of various Oneonta organizations and organize a public presentation of their findings at a spring UCCCA event. The Boys and Girls Club of Oneonta, The Sweet Adelines, Oneonta Contra Dancers, the Sixth Ward Athletic Club and the Oneonta Moose Club are some of the groups being studied.
Sidney police: Boy assaulted by wrestler
SIDNEY — Sidney high school wrestler Anthony Chamorro, 17, was charged with felony assault last week for allegedly choking a 14-year-old student with a phone cord, Sidney police said Monday. Despite knowing about the arrest, Sidney school officials allowed Chamorro to participate in Saturday's Midstate Athletic Conference wrestling championships in Bainbridge.
Slip-slidin' into February after warm January
A blast of winter hit the area Monday, causing slippery conditions and several minor car accidents. Snow, 15-mile-per-hour winds and chilly temperatures began to appear in late afternoon, causing dozens of cars to slide off the road, according to deputies from Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties.
Shelter opponents, OFO spar
ONEONTA — A flier circulated this week to Sixth Ward residents urging them to oppose the construction of a homeless shelter grossly distorts the facts about area homelessness, Opportunities For Otsego officials said Monday. But one city resident who has opposed the OFO project says the information in the flier is on target and indicative of what Sixth Ward residents are thinking.
Oneonta lawyer censured again
ALBANY — An Oneonta lawyer whose professionalism was called into question 15 years ago has again been found guilty of misconduct.
Man gets 5 years for sex abuse
DELHI — A Margaretville man was sentenced in Delaware County Court on Monday to five years in jail on three counts of sexual abuse with children under 11.
Descendants tell story of president, his slave
ONEONTA — More than 100 college students attended a lecture Monday that delved into the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. Shay Banks-Young and Julia Jefferson Westerinen are great-great-granddaughters of the sons of the former president and Hemings. The women spoke at a program titled "The Affairs of Race in America: A Conversation in Black and White," held at the Hunt Union at the State University College at Oneonta Monday night.
Monday, February 4, 2002
Residents looking to yoga for balance
ONEONTA — Morris resident Lucy Holcombe, 60, said since she began practicing yoga, she is happier and healthier than ever before. "The practice is really life-changing," she said. "I've noticed wonderful strength, improvement in posture and a generally relaxed attitude toward life," she said. Yoga, based on a 2,500-year-old Hindu philosophy, has gained popularity in recent years both locally and nationally. In Oneonta alone, the number of teachers has doubled in the last few years.
Fleischer shares inside look at 9/11
COOPERSTOWN — President Bush's press secretary Saturday night gave more than 370 people an insider's perspective on the minutes, hours and days following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer spoke at the first event of the Cooperstown Winter Cultural Series at The Farmers' Museum.
Sailors, singers, pen pals get together at UV school
NEW BERLIN - Two sailors and their third-grade pen pals sang patriotic songs Wednesday morning at Unadilla Valley Central School in New Berlin. The encounter came during the school's morning program. Vanessa Medalla, 20, and Ryan Edwards, 21, who are serving on the USS Vincent, an aircraft carrier, had been corresponding with Linda Tuller's third-grade class for months while their ship was plowing the Arabian Sea. They were on leave until Sunday.
Teen charged in school threat
A Jefferson Central School student was arrested after he wrote a threat on a bathroom wall Tuesday implying harm would come to the school on Friday, officials said. The 15-year-old boy, whose name was withheld by authorities, was charged Wednesday with second-degree aggravated harassment by state police at Cobleskill.
Youth alliance offers grants
A local alliance is now accepting applications for grants to fund community and school-based programs that provide safe places for children. Leatherstocking's Promise — The Alliance for Youth is offering $10,000 in grants for programs that promote interaction and bonding between caring adults and children in a safe environment, said Marjorie Naples, youth development specialist for the alliance.
DeLancey may get another post office
U.S. Postal Service officials have scheduled a meeting on Wednesday at the Hamden Town Hall to get reaction on the possible reopening of a DeLancey post office.
Emancipation Ball scheduled for Feb. 23
ONEONTA — The United States Colored Troops Institute of Delaware and Otsego Counties will have its fifth annual Emancipation Memorial Ball on Feb. 23 in the Agora of Dewar Hall at Hartwick College.
Saturday, February 2, 2002
Actress hits silver screen
ONEONTA — Twenty-one-year-old Ivy Snitzer isn't used to Oneonta. She likes it, mind you, but said Los Angeles is a little bit more her style. And that makes sense, considering Snitzer recently starred in a Hollywood movie. At least, her body did. Snitzer recently appeared in "Shallow Hal," playing the 300-pound body double for Gwyneth Paltrow.
Views differ on milk-price fix
SOUTH NEW BERLIN - Depressed wholesale milk prices are squeezing dairy farmers again this winter, but there is no consensus yet on how to fix the problem.
Friday, February 1, 2002
Storm causes cancellations, delays
A batch of freezing rain Thursday created hazardous road conditions and caused a slew of closings and cancellations throughout the day. The freezing rain, which started in some areas early Thursday morning, continued throughout the afternoon and was expected to let up by late evening, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Binghamton said. The freezing rain came earlier than predicted, causing most, if not all area schools to close, according to Board of Cooperative Educational Services officials.
The 15,099 that got away: '01 deer take down
COOPERSTOWN - Hunters killed 280,760 deer across the state last fall, close to 5 percent less than the year before, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Family farm earns honor
A Richfield Springs dairy farm, family-owned for the past 104 years, was recently recognized by the state as a Century Farm. The Cantwell farm was one of 12 New York farms — 100 years or older — recognized by the New York State Agricultural Society during its annual agricultural forum on Jan. 10 in Syracuse.
Party to give youths tobacco Reality Check
DELHI — A party is in the making to educate Delaware County youths about the ways big tobacco companies target them, thanks to Reality Check, a youth-led organization against the tobacco industry.
Schools Chancellor Hayden to retire
State schools Chancellor Carl Hayden, who is known for his efforts to raise the bar by which schools and students are assessed, announced his retirement Thursday after 12 years of service to the state Board of Regents. Local school officials said Thursday they'll remember him as an accessible leader and as the driving force behind the higher standards for high school students.
District project moves forward in part, in Sidney
SIDNEY — Some parts of the Sidney Central School building project are going forward while others are being reviewed to keep the overall project within budget, a school official said Thursday.
Officials: Mead merger won't affect plant now
SIDNEY — The recently completed merger involving the parent company of Mead Consumer and Office Products in Sidney is not expected to have an immediate effect on the local operation, officials said. But the facility, like all of those in the new company, will be reviewed within two years, officials said this week.
Wet, warm winter won't stop Cooperstown carnival
COOPERSTOWN — Fireworks will light up the weekend as the 36th annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival begins tonight and continues through Sunday with events for all ages. A lack of cooperation on the part of Jack Frost has dented events only slightly, officials said. The ice-fishing contest has been knocked off the roster, according to carnival Chairman Milo Stewart Jr., but everything else can be modified to work around the lack of ice and snow.
