Courts dominate headlines
A guilty verdict, an acquittal and a plea deal in a DWI-related death case were three courtroom dramas that found their way into this year's Daily Star top 10 news stories. Other stories that had people talking in 2002 involved double-digit tax hikes in county budgets and the bizarre details surrounding the death of an Oneonta bank robber. Here are the top 10 stories considered by The Daily Star news staff to be among the most important of the year
Sidney firm expands
SIDNEY — A contract electronics firm expects to better serve its customers following the purchase of a telecommunications company that will keep about 40 jobs in town, officials said. AJS Control Inc., in the Sidney Industrial Park, purchased two divisions of a company owned by Scientech of Idaho, including Meson Telstar in Sidney.
UCCCA names 2003 Otsego County grant recipients
More toes will be tapping next year thanks to a series of arts grants recently announced for Otsego County. The Decentralization Program of the Upper Council Community Council of the Arts named its recipients for this year's grants for arts and culture programs in the county. The 29 recipients of grants were chosen by a volunteer panel of county residents, officials said.
Snow removal ongoing
ONEONTA — City snow removal crews were still working to clear streets and parking lots Monday, five days after a Christmas nor'easter dumped more than two feet. The majority of streets have already been plowed, so street parking is not a problem, said city Public Service Supervisor Dan Obergefell Monday.
Otsego County votes to up insurance payments
COOPERSTOWN - Faced with rising insurance premium costs, the Otego County Board of Representatives opted Monday to increase the amount it will pay to claims from its self-insurance program, and to decrease its liability limit. The board made this decision after listening to a presentation from its insurance broker, Michael Hutcherson.
Chamber leadership to stay same a little longer
ONEONTA —Rob Robinson will remain as president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce for three more years. Chamber Chairman Dan Swift announced the new contract Monday, a week before the Chamber's annual "State-of-the-State" luncheon.
Monday, December 30, 2002
Year of the nor'easter
Weather watchers had a wide variety of events to keep them intrigued in 2002. The year began and ended with nor'easters — one that dropped about a foot of snow on Jan. 7 and a record breaker that coated the area with close to 3 feet of snow on Dec. 25. Between the snow events, there were record-breaking highs in January, a March ice storm that left many without electricity, a cold spell in May that brought snow, a drought that drained the reservoirs and a variety of other weather anomalies.
First Night '03 geared for children
First Night 2003 organizers are gearing up for the sixth annual celebration in Oneonta, and this year's event will include more children's activities.
Otsego County negotiating CSEA contract
COOPERSTOWN - A five-year labor contract between Otsego County and about 600 county workers who belong to Civil Service Employees' Association Unit 8,100 expires Tuesday, the last day of the year. Negotiations already have begun on a successor contract, but neither side has predicted how quickly an agreement might be reached.
Landfill, baseball camp among issues in '02
Local development found many paths through government bureaucracy in 2002. And for those who ran into roadblocks, the upcoming year may provide some resolution. In Unadilla, the future of the Waste Recovery Enterprises LLC construction-and-demolition-debris landfill may be decided at a vote scheduled for Jan. 7.
Saturday, December 28, 2002
From Poor House to Manor
PHOENIX MILLS - Otsego County is building a $30 million nursing home on the western side of the Susquehanna River. It will have five wings, or "neighborhoods," air conditioning, walkways and a pleasant facade meant to blend into the environment. This new county home won't be called a poorhouse, but it is a direct descendent of the county's original poorhouse, established in 1826 just across the river in Middlefield.
Tourism info, art meld in Walton
WALTON — Whether you are looking for local information or are in the mood to browse through an art gallery, your destination is the same in Walton.
Delhi, Walton adjust to snow
Wednesday's storm left towering banks of snow and eliminated parking along many streets, but village crews were trying to gain control of the situation Friday. Parking places were limited along Walton and Delhi's business districts. Joseph Cetta, Walton public works superintendent, said his first concern was widening village streets so two cars could pass and making sure intersections were clear.
Snowmobilers groom trails in Otsego area for this weekend
RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Wednesday's heavy snow has translated into backaches for shovelers and overtime for plowing crews, but now that the weekend's here, it's time to play. For those with snowmobiles, the snow was a blessing, and they'll be zipping along trails Saturday and Sunday.
Year In Review: Higher taxes, lower milk prices part of doing business in 2002
Falling milk prices and the possibility of higher taxes were among the developments in area business this year. In September, the Otsego County Board of Representatives doubled the county's occupancy tax to 4 percent. The board is awaiting state Legislature approval of the proposal.
Friday, December 27, 2002
Area digs out from storm of '02
ONEONTA —Road crews were hard at work Thursday as the area dug out from a record-breaking Christmas snowfall. Otsego and Delaware counties lifted their states of emergency Thursday morning and roads were re-opened. "The towns and counties and villages have done a great job, with the amount of snow that they got, to keep the roads in the condition that they are and we're very grateful for that," said Carl Higgins, Otsego county chairman. "I know that some of the crews worked long and hard." Many communities had record snowfall in a 24-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. The largest amount fell in Cherry Valley, which reported 39 inches from the storm, breaking their previous record of 28 inches in 1983. In parts of Delaware and Otsego counties, the storm "probably rates as one of the greatest snowfalls ever," said NWS meteorologist Mitch Guild.
Weather delays big shopping day
ONEONTA — The frightful weather outside Thursday may have kept some shoppers from taking advantage of post-Christmas sales at local stores, said several area retailers. But today and the rest of the weekend should bring in the traditional throng of bargain hunters, said the merchants, who are looking to clear out leftover inventory.
Walton to get new sidewalks
WALTON — Walton residents can look forward to new sidewalks thanks to a $100,000 federal grant that was obtained through the state Department of Transportation, according to Walton Mayor Carl Vogel. For more than a decade, the Walton Village Board has been budgeting $20,000 to $25,000 annually to restore sections of the village sidewalks, but the grant money will speed up the process.
Snow lingers on rooftops
COOPERSTOWN - The heavy snowfall of Christmas day may become heavier in the next few days, putting a strain on roofs. A National Weather Service forecast issued Thursday for the Binghamton, Norwich and Oneonta areas predicted daytime temperatures will rise slowly between now and Monday when they'll reach 42 degrees.
Tow truck crews help get cars back on the road
Tow truck drivers aiding stranded motorists over the last two days were busier than Santa Claus on his Christmas delivery route. Whether it was a car stuck in a driveway, or a truck that had driven off the road into a snow drift, area towing services had their work cut out for them following Wednesday's Nor'easter that blanketed the region with up to 2 feet of snow.
Court cases gave gripping accounts of crimes
COOPERSTOWN - Police, courts, lawyers and the rest of the criminal justice system were busy in 2002 in this portion of central New York. Perhaps the area's most-watched case was the murder of registered nurse Patricia Wlasiuk, whose body was found in Guilford Lake on April 3, and the subsequent conviction of her husband, Peter, in November.
Well issues in Otego on hold
OTEGO — The case of the Otego residents who say their wells are polluted, is on hold as the parties look for new legal representation.
Thursday, December 26, 2002
Whitest Christmas ... ever
ONEONTA - Anyone dreaming of a White Christmas couldn't possibly have been disappointed Wednesday. However, the same could not be said for stranded motorists and others inconvenienced by the record holiday snowfall that hit the region. Delaware and Otsego counties declared states of emergency and roads were closed. Travel advisories were issued in Chenango and Schoharie counties. "I think they've kept up with the roads pretty well," said Otsego County Supervisor Carl Higgins, chairman of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, who declared the state of emergency. "It's just that it is rough out there and we don't want people out there unless they have to be," Higgins said.
Going along for the ride as plows battle the snow
ONEONTA — Riding with plows, both public and private, gave a chance to see what people who clear the snow are up against. The trip with Dan Obergefell, supervisor of the city Department of Public Works, started at about 5 p.m. He has a cell phone in his 3/4-ton pickup truck that makes a rider feel as if he is in snow command central.
Groups save stamps for vets' crafts
They may save their Christmas cards, but some local women are more interested in the stamps on the envelopes. Members of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 487 in Davenport are saving canceled stamps to send to veterans hospitals in Albany and Binghamton.
Year in Review: Education — Budgets, standards tested schools in 2002
No year is an easy year for educators While this year's major education events may seem less controversial than last year's Milford Central School District's Supreme Court case, an extremely late budget and standardized testing dispute, they still made marks on local districts.
Community dinner delivers
ONEONTA — Snow kept the turnout lower than usual at the Friends of Christmas Community Christmas Dinner on Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta. The event closed about half an hour early because of the weather, but there were still about 200 dinners served at the annual event and delivered to homes.
Dogs need licenses sooner
Area dog owners could face a $5 penalty for their dogs not being licensed at the right age, according to new state legislation. Dog licensing changes enacted late last month by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets say all dogs 4 months of age and older must be licensed. The new law, which previously required dogs to be licensed at 6 months, became effective Nov. 20, said area dog control officer Marvin Mulford.
College announces a dozen faculty and staff promotions
State University College of Technology at Delhi President Candace Vancko recently announced the promotion of 12 faculty and staff members for the 2002-03 academic year. Three members of the college's nursing department have received promotions. All three women are New York state registered nurses.
Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Holiday on the job not all bad
It's the nature of the business, say several area employees whose jobs will require them to work on Christmas. While many will spend Dec. 25 at home with loved ones, admiring the tree, tearing into festive gift-wrapping and drinking eggnog, there are some who must forego all the Yuletide cheer. But, hey, standing behind a cash register on Christmas really isn't all that bad, said Tom Sklenka, who manages the Stewart's Shop in Worcester. "I'll be here, along with all of my employees," Sklenka said Monday. "Nine of us are on the schedule and we all do a short shift to cover the day." Stewart's employees, he said, will work about three hours per shift during the day. The store, which is usually open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas.
Volunteers serve as school's movers
NEW BERLIN - More than 100 volunteer workers are helping Unadilla Valley Central School move from its buildings in the village of New Berlin and the hamlet of South New Berlin to the school's new campus on state Route 8. Thanks to those volunteers, when school reconvenes Jan. 7, teachers and students will find themselves in a new, $37.8 million campus.
Crews ready for a white Christmas Day
ONEONTA —There's a good chance it will be a white Christmas this year. The question is, how much of the white stuff will there be? The best chance for heavy snow is from Christmas Day through the night, with the most snowfall —possibly exceeding 7 inches - expected across the Poconos and the Western Catskills of New York, according to meteorologist Ron Murphy at the National Weather Service in Binghamton.
Florist packing up Oneonta business
After 30 years, Stoeger Florist and Greenhouses of Oneonta is closing today. Owner Liese Stoeger has tried to sell the business for 14 years, she said. "I haven't been able to find anyone and I am past 65 now and just simply it's too much for me," she said.
Firms to receive cheaper energy
ONEONTA - Two Oneonta businesses will receive discounted electricity under a state program, state Sen. James Seward announced recently. Burt Rigid Box and Custom Electronics, both on Browne Street, were approved for allocations of cheaper electricity by the state Economic Development Power Allocation Board, said Seward, R-Milford.
Monday, December 23, 2002
An international holiday, locally
Although holiday customs may vary from country to country, the themes tend to be the same. International exchange students at several local high schools said last week that although their Christmases may be slightly different this year, the focus on family, food, traditions and togetherness remains the same. Here is a sampling of what the holidays back home are like for six students from around the world. Slovakia: For 16-year-old Juraj Holejsovsky, who is spending the year at Oneonta High School, Christmas season usually begins with the purchase of a live carp. "We have it in the bathtub, and it's still alive," Holejsovsky said. "On the 24th, my dad kills it and my mom cooks it."
Volunteer tops White House tree
A former Delhi resident recently found that volunteer work can lead to new heights for the holidays. Kathleen Pernice, a 1973 graduate of Delaware Academy, got a ride recently to the top of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.
Taking 'Notice' of OHS grad
ONEONTA —How does a groom react when a cell phone rings during his wedding? If he's Jonathan Dokuchitz, just how the director told him to. The Oneonta High School graduate has a part in "Two Weeks Notice," a romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant that opened this month.
Study: New is not improved
Bassett Healthcare was among the more than 600 clinical trial sites in a new federally sponsored study on high blood pressure, Bassett officials said Friday. Findings of the study, the largest ever on high blood pressure, were reported Wednesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Scout spreads his wings with emergency route
SIDNEY — The Eagle Scout project of a Masonville teen will provide local students a bridge over possible future troubles. Matthew Jones, an 18-year-old senior at Sidney High School, completed a bridge and handrails this fall to help students evacuate the Masonville Elementary School during emergencies. Principal Patricia Doyle said the escape route was needed to meet state requirements.
Students receive gifts of language
OTEGO — Third-graders at Otego Elementary School will now be able to find out what a rutabaga is, how to spell encyclopedia and which "there" to use, thanks to a gift from the local Grange. The Otego-Susquehanna Grange gave every student in third grade a brand-new Webster's dictionary during a school assembly Friday morning. "I don't know of any other Grange that has given out dictionaries to the entire third grade in its district," said Robert Hewlett, Grange master. "I think we're making history here." About 40 third-graders processed to the front of the school's gymnasium to receive the dictionaries, then returned to their seats clutching their new books. "Thank you," they shouted in unison at the end.
Fatal DWI case divisive
COOPERSTOWN - The family of Jessica Bass, who was killed in an automobile accident July 10 in Milford, wants the driver of the car, Edward A. Warner, to be tried in Otsego County Court. Otsego County District Attorney William "Jack" Gibbons, however, says "a plea bargain may be appropriate in this case."
Donohue shares alcohol lesson
HANCOCK — Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue's speech was a highlight of the Delaware County Under the Influence Coalition's Reducing Underage Drinking Conference on Friday. More than 100 students, parents, business owners, government officials and law enforcement officers gathered at Hancock Central School and the Hancock Baptist Church to discuss ways to deal with underage drinking.
OHS graduate writes guide for unwed couples
Living together and thinking about getting married? Living together and never planning to marry? Gay and living together but can't get married legally? If so, the book, "Unmarried To Each Other: The Essential Guide to Living Together as an Unmarried Couple," may be for you.
Man reports second robbery
ONEONTA — An Oneonta man told police Friday that he was the victim of an armed robbery at his home on Woodside Avenue, city police said. Police said it is the second time in two months that the man has reported being robbed.
Presents dropped at wrong house
Not only did Santa come early to the Wellman residence, he dropped off the wrong presents. A clear plastic garbage bag containing three neatly wrapped Christmas packages, each meant for someone named Chelsea Foster, was found hanging on a door handle of Ann Marie Wellman's home in Maryland on Wednesday.
Board OKs patch for phone system
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County Board of Representatives voted Wednesday to pay $43,838 a year, plus $15,570 in one-time charges, to patch up the county's microwave system. The funds will pay for installing seven telephone lines to bypass a malfunctioning part of the system that connects the county office building in Cooperstown to the public safety building in Phoenix Mills. The lines are owned by Verizon.
Friday, December 20, 2002
It's that wonderful toy of the year
ONEONTA —Faux felines and video games are favorites among area children striving to make Santa's nice list, retailers said. "I sell them out in 15 minutes," said Lisa Gillespie, toy department manager at Wal-Mart. "If I make an announcement and say I have FurReal Friends, they're over here and they're gone." FurReal Friends are battery-operated cats that move and purr in response to touch."It's like the Furby was a couple of years ago. You can't find it anywhere," said Julie Carey of Morris, who was shopping with niece Kendra Carey, 10, of Oneonta last week at Southside Mall.
Van Buren guilty on 3 counts
ONEONTA —After three hours of deliberation, a jury in city court found lawyer Andrew Van Buren guilty of three of five charges Thursday. Van Buren was found guilty of one count each of disorderly conduct, trespassing and littering. He was declared innocent of resisting arrest and a second count of trespassing.
Schenevus students save woman
SCHENEVUS - Quick thinking by Schenevus Central School students Wednesday helped an elderly woman receive emergency medical attention. Their timely intervention came as they were performing another good deed, delivering holiday baskets, according to Sandra Bonczkowski, the school's music teacher.
Area man victim of widespread Verizon layoffs
George Nebesnik reported to work at Verizon's Stamford office Thursday morning only to be told he was out of a job. "I knew something like this could happen, and I knew it was going to be close, but I didn't know for sure until this morning," Nebesnik of Hobart said Thursday afternoon.
Court reinstates kid-porn charge
ALBANY — A state appeals court, split over what exactly makes pictures of naked children "lewd," reinstated child-porn charges against a man whose indictment was dismissed last year by a Chenango County Court judge.
Board trying to figure out adult homes
COOPERSTOWN - A new concept for operating the county's nursing home was presented during Wednesday night's meeting of the Otsego County Board of Representatives. The approach may lead the county to seek sicker nursing home residents and hire nurse managers who will oversee most aspects of operating sections of the nursing home.
Family bluestone business expanding by 25 workers
Johnston & Rhodes, a fourth generation family-owned bluestone business, will expand its operations in East Branch, creating 25 new jobs, state officials announced Monday.
Thursday, December 19, 2002
School strives for successful drive
WELLS BRIDGE — For a growing number of students and faculty at Unatego Junior/Senior High School, the holidays are about the joys of giving, said several involved with the annual food and gift drive. The program provides food, clothing and Christmas gifts to those in need of assistance in the Unatego community, said Alice Cannistra, a high school Spanish teacher who has been coordinating the program since it started in 1997. During that time, Cannistra said, the program has grown from helping 23 to 92 people. The food drive is under the direction of 36 students in the Future Business Leaders of America club, she said.
For some, holidays mean finding day care
Parents may not be as excited as their children about local schools' holiday vacations. Although almost two weeks of free time may seem like heaven for children, it's often a struggle for working parents who have to find a baby sitter.
Dec. 25 could be white
Area weathermen may not be dreaming about a white Christmas, but they can give the odds on having one this year. Researchers at Cornell University's Northeast Climate Center have found the historical probability of snow on the ground for the holiday in this area is 69 percent.
Van Buren drops lawyer
ONEONTA —The second day of lawyer Andrew Van Buren's city court trial began Wednesday with the firing of his attorney. Van Buren asked that his council, Terence O'Leary of Walton, be removed before testimony resumed Wednesday morning, as O'Leary had been discharged as his attorney.
Board talks of possible alternative school
ONEONTA — One or two board members should sit on a committee to determine the city school district's alternative education needs, the Board of Education decided Wednesday night.
Aldermen review Oneonta parking issues
ONEONTA — A draft of the recently completed city parking study was handed out to aldermen for review this week. Findings so far indicate the city can cure a lot of its congestion problem by better managing the lots and spaces that already exist, Fourth Ward Alderman Keith Bott told aldermen during Tuesday's council meeting.
Spitzer letter tells of money en route
COOPERSTOWN - Otsego County is due to receive an installment of $632,000 in tobacco settlement money this week, according to state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Hubcap peddler in Sidney court
SIDNEY — Wearing a bright orange shirt and red plaid pants, the "Hubcap Man" was in court Tuesday to answer code, vehicle and traffic violations. Gilbert Lane, who sold hubcaps in Kortright and Walton alongside roadways, has again hung up his sign on a condemned building in Sidney. Lane said he is living behind the lot at Bird Avenue in the Sherwood Heights area after being evicted from an apartment next door, owned by a nephew, because he didn't pay the rent. He said he had been living there for about a year. But it wasn't hubcaps or rent that brought Lane into court. Instead, he appeared to answer charges from July that he allegedly repeatedly used his lawn tractor to go grocery shopping.
Otsego grand jury indicts the LaDukes
COOPERSTOWN - The mayor and the former village clerk of Milford, and a college student were among several people charged with crimes late Tuesday when the Otsego County grand jury returned indictments.
Gay rights bill OK'd
ALBANY - A bill that would outlaw discrimination of homosexuals in New York passed the state Senate by a 34-26 vote Tuesday. Two area senators were among the 26 who voted no.
Profs honored at SUNY dinner
Both the old and the new were honored Monday night at a State University of New York recognition dinner for scholars in the humanities, arts and social sciences.
Oneonta council revises lieutenant's duties
ONEONTA — Aldermen voted Tuesday to adopt a revised list of duties for the position of city police lieutenant. The position, which had been vacant since the 1999 retirement of Lt. Gerald Platt, is expected to be filled internally within the next couple of weeks, said members of the Common Council's Public Safety Board.
Officer remembered as respected
ONEONTA — Oneonta Police Lt. Gerald C. "Jerry" Platt was the kind of officer who was respected by everyone, those who knew him said Tuesday. The 65-year-old Platt, who died Tuesday morning at his home after a battle with cancer, was an officer with the Oneonta Police Department for 37 years. He retired as the department's lieutenant Oct. 31, 1999.
Empire zone being redone
Otsego County's Empire Zone — centered in Laurens but reaching into many towns in the county — is being redone to accommodate more businesses, said Carolyn Lewis, county economic development specialist.
Police take stand in lawyer's trial
ONEONTA - Witnesses described lawyer Andrew Van Buren as "angry," "upset" and "out of control" in testimony during the second day of his city court trial Tuesday. Van Buren, who successfully defended Colin Davidson in the garage-brawl trial, is charged with trespassing, littering, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct stemming from a March 28 incident.
Hospitals aim to care for environment as well as patients
ONEONTA —Area hospitals don't just care for the health of their patients. Some are looking into the health of the planet as well. A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta recently joined the hospitals for a Healthy Environment, or H2E program.
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Murdered woman had area ties
A woman found murdered Friday afternoon in her Endwell apartment had local ties, former co-workers said Monday. They remembered Nicole M. Hicks, who police said was murdered by her live-in boyfriend, as a friendly, warm, down-to-earth woman with a good sense of humor. Hicks, 36, lived in Oneonta and Harpersfield and worked in the Otsego County Chamber as an administrative assistant, said Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the chamber. "She was a very talented person — very personable," Robinson said, adding that Hicks reworked the chamber's computer system. "She did a wonderful job."
Donors keep pace with hard times
Organizations that provide special services for the Christmas season report contributions have been good so far. Some officials said the weak economy has seen an increase in requests for services, but in most cases donations are keeping pace with demand.
Kayaker maps out journeys
Dennis Squires knows the ins and outs of whitewater kayaking well. So well, actually, that friends and even strangers call to ask him for advice on where to go and what to expect when they get there, according to his mother, Barbara Fairbairn.
Sexual orientation bill to draw Capitol attention
ALBANY — New York's capital today will be battleground for civil rights and the political fringes, where gays, lesbians and cross-dressers will square off against the religious right. And through it all, a rare moment in Albany will emerge as a bill whose vote has yet to be determined hits the state Senate floor.
Brawl lawyer's trial begins
ONEONTA —Opening statements began in city court on Monday in the trial of Andrew Van Buren, a lawyer from Delaware County. The South Kortright lawyer who successfully defended Colin Davidson in the parking garage brawl trial is charged with trespassing, littering, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Sidney leader recalled fondly
People who worked with former Sidney Supervisor Walter F. Johnson use words such as "gentleman" and "top notch" to describe him. His son David said family was the most important thing to the long-time dairy farmer.
Area arts groups come together to raise money
COOPERSTOWN - In these days of lean governmental budgets, several artistic groups in Otsego County are banding together to promote the arts and seek funding. The Otsego County Arts Alliance, which has been incubating for months, will publish an on-line arts calendar by mid-January at www.artsaccess.info.
Monday, December 16, 2002
Free insurance rankles some reps
COOPERSTOWN - Democrat Kevin Hodne, a member of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, objects to a perk that his job provides: free health insurance. `'I've never worked anywhere else where I wasn't asked to contribute to the cost of my health-care plan," Hodne said. With the cost of American health care soaring, straining family budgets, Hodne said he believes it's unseemly for elected officials to get a free ride. "I think we have to lead by example, and we're not," he said. "What kind of a message does it send that we get our health care for free when others have to pay so much?" During this budget-crunching fall, Hodne proposed that board members pay 5 percent of their health-care premiums, but the board failed to adopt this measure.
Area officials: Trent's time may be over
Area political leaders said Sunday that Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott may have outlived his usefulness as a Republican leader. After several attempts by Lott to explain apparent pro-segregationist comments, even those willing to listen said the party might be better served by other leadership.
Area competitors to walk in 1,200-mile border battle
COOPERSTOWN - Walkers from Cooperstown and Windsor, Nova Scotia, soon will be locked in a battle for striding supremacy. Starting in early January, the premiere walkers in both sports-minded communities will see who can walk farther.
Nursing home getting new beds
DELHI — The residents of Delaware County's Countryside Care Center are all getting new beds, and the old beds will be available free of charge to area residents.
Entertainment lineup set for First Night
ONEONTA —First Night 2003 is taking shape, as the steering committee announced it has finalized the Oneonta gala's entertainment schedule. The Dady Brothers, new to First Night, will headline this year's evening activities. From Rochester, the group plays folk, Irish and traditional music, among other genres.
Conference tackles underage drinking
A daylong conference devoted to the problem of underage drinking in Delaware County will feature New York State Lt. Gov. Mary O. Donohue as the key note speaker. Jason Stanton, Delaware County STOP-DWI coordinator, said the Reducing Underage Drinking Conference will be held Friday at the Hancock Central School and the Hancock Baptist Church.
Teacher cited for science lessons
A Margaretville Central School teacher has been awarded the Science Teacher's Association of New York State Excellence in Science Teaching Award. Jacqueline Garelick received the award, which is given to only one elementary level teacher in the state each year, at a conference in Ellenville early in November, according to Michael J. Hanophy, awards chairman.
Cutting the tree still part of season
The smell of evergreen. The joy of the search. The accomplishment of dragging your perfect tree back to the family car and tying it on the roof. There's nothing like cutting down your own Christmas tree. And that's why some area residents return year after year to cut-your-own Christmas tree farms for their holiday evergreen.
Locals answer call for vaccine
ONEONTA — Officials at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta and The Hospital in Sidney said Friday they are asking their employees to volunteer to be immunized for smallpox. The inoculations are part of a state Health Department plan to vaccinate 16,000 health-care workers for smallpox to protect against a terrorist attack.
Holiday play brings cheer to church
A group of seasoned area performers will present seasonal family fare this Sunday to support a worthy cause. The Friends of Wellness, which has been holding weekly non-sectarian spiritual gatherings in Otego since September, will stage a Christmas play at the Otego Presbyterian Church on River Street.
Reporter's Notebook: Here are some tips from a first-timer
George Lundin's "Oh, my goodness" response was typical. Lundin, owner of a cut-your-own-tree farm in Otego, was responding to me telling him I never, ever had a real tree in my home before. Maybe it's because I'm from Buffalo, where there was too much snow to search for the perfect, fragrant evergreen. Or maybe my parents just appreciated the convenience of unpacking each year the plastic number from a box buried deep in the basement.
Snacks, massages offered to cut stress of finals
ONEONTA — Hartwick College junior Crystal Lonberger managed to survive most of final exam week by swimming daily, sleeping a lot and taking caffeine pills to stay alert during studying sessions.
Jury: Man guilty of abuse
COOPERSTOWN - After deliberating more than 10 hours, an Otsego County jury Thursday convicted Donald Bostwick of Winney Hill Road in Oneonta of first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Forecast: More snow
Area residents may be blasted with more messy weather this weekend, as meteorologists predicted rain, snow and slush Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Study: Employers seek work force that is trained
Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties added more than 2,400 private-sector jobs from 1995 to 2000, according to development survey results released Friday afternoon.
Protein hurts local farmers
HARTWICK - It used to take 1,000 pounds of milk to make 140 pounds of cheddar cheese, according to Paris Reidhead of Hartwick. Now, when cheap, imported milk protein concentrates (MPCs) are added to the mix, "you can get the same amount of cheese from 700 pounds of milk," said Reidhead, an agricultural writer and former Cooperative Extension agent in Otsego County. "The trouble is, we don't know where all this MPC stuff is coming from," he said. "Some of it comes from India, some from Bangladesh, some from the former Soviet Union and they don't have the same standards in those countries that we have here." Consumers should beware, Reidhead said. "It's in a lot of pizza cheese, cheese products," he said. "Even Kraft uses it, but you're likely to get more of it in store brands." Reidhead said consumers should be lobbying for labeling requirements so they can tell where the ingredients in their cheeses come from.
Milford water not for babies
High nitrate levels found this month in the village of Milford's drinking water have prompted a state Department of Health warning against giving the water to infants.
Program receives $600,000 challenge
ONEONTA — The Cooperstown Graduate Program of the State University College at Oneonta has received a challenge — a $600,000 one. The history museum studies program has received a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment For the Humanities, officials said.
Child's death prompts snowmobiling concerns
Requiring young children to take safety instruction classes isn't the way to prevent another tragedy, according to Joseph Caso, a snowmobile safety instructor. But using common sense may be. According to an Associated Press story, 5-year-old Paul Emery of Clinton died Monday, a day after his 140-pound miniature Polaris snowmobile overturned as he tried to climb a snow-covered mound of dirt in a farmer's field about 100 yards behind his house.
Verizon may drop 3,000 this month
ONEONTA - More than 3,000 Verizon employees across the state face possible layoffs by the end of December, company and union officials said. Verizon, which has 46,000 employees in New York, including its wireless division, aims to reduce its work force by 3,800 jobs, according to spokesman Cliff Lee.
SUNY funding will be held up
ALBANY — The Pataki administration will withhold $62 million in spring semester tuition-assistance payments to SUNY colleges across the state to help close this year's anticipated $2 billion state-budget shortfall. Locally, that means the State University College at Oneonta will be forced to temporarily do without $475,000 while the SUNY system is already hurting for operating funds.
Laboratory bears chemist's name
ONEONTA — Hartwick College officials recently dedicated a geochmistry laboratory in the name of a famous chemist and lover of geology. The college's Emiel Freedman Geochemistry Center in the Miller Science Building was named after a man who studied geology and chemistry at the City College of New York, and later worked as a chemist in the field of electrochemistry and metallurgy.
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Chicken moves to town
ONEONTA — You've got to be nuts to play chicken with a truck. Unless, of course, you are a chicken. A yet-to-be-named red hen is safe and sound today at a home on Southside after surviving a harrowing experience Wednesday in the middle of Oneonta's Main Street. City Hall employee Pam Stewart, who has adopted the chicken, provided a play-by-play Wednesday afternoon of what happened near the corner of Main Street and Ford Avenue. "I was walking in to work this morning and saw a (Department of Public Works) truck that was stopped in the middle of the road to avoid hitting a chicken," Stewart said.
Sleet, snow cover region
ONEONTA — A mix of ice, snow and rain made for treacherous driving throughout the region Wednesday. However, none of the numerous reported accidents in Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Chenango counties was serious, dispatchers said.
Some local schools OK with limits to Internet
Local school officials said Wednesday they support filtering the Internet at student-use computers, even if they lose access to health-related websites. They were responding to survey results released this week by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent national health philanthropy. The survey found that filters used in schools may prevent students from accessing online health information.
More in need, but heating funding may leave
ONEONTA —As area agencies report an increase in those seeking heating aid this winter, proposed cuts could reduce federal funding. "I've said all along that this is going to be a very long winter for the clients we serve," said Steve Pindar, emergency services manager at Opportunities For Otsego.
Budget passed in Delhi
DELHI — After 16 adjustments to the proposed 2003 Delaware County budget, the county Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the spending plan Wednesday. Delhi Supervisor Gary Manning, the county budget director, said there had been two or three meetings of the Finance Committee since the Dec. 4 public hearing on the budget.
Sex-abuse jurors need more time
COOPERSTOWN - After deliberating more than six hours, jurors in the case of Donald Bostwick, who is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, were sent home at about 4 p.m. Wednesday. "They're due back here at nine in the morning," Otsego County District Attorney William "Jack" Gibbons said Wednesday night.
Date set to decide dump vote
Both sides in the long running controversy over a construction and demolition debris landfill in Unadilla are expecting to be busy until a vote next year. At its Tuesday meeting, the Town Board set Jan. 7, from noon to 9 p.m., for the vote on a proposed change to local law. If approved, the new law will allow Waste Recovery Enterprise LLC to operate the landfill at its current location at the intersection of state routes 7 and 8.
No word on area involvement in priest scandals
ONEONTA —Catholic officials were either unaware or unable to say Wednesday whether any of the latest sexual abuse allegations involved priests in the area.
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Walton woman seeking home
WALTON - A Walton woman and more than 60 animals will be homeless, unless she can find a rental property where she can house her pets and farm animals by Sunday. Mary Lou Decker, 63, is being evicted from her home of 40 years. She lost ownership of her house and property when the bank foreclosed on the property late last year. Mary Lou's Farm Stand, located across the road from the house she must vacate, has long been a landmark on county Route 21. She made her living running the stand for 27 years, until it closed in September. Decker said her financial problems began when business began to drop off as people's eating habits changed and more and more farm stands opened. "People live differently now," Decker said. "They don't can and freeze fruits and vegetables like they used to, and then there began to be a farm stand on every corner.
Heating bills could swell
ONEONTA —Energy prices might rise this winter for a variety of reasons, but not for everyone, fuel company officials said. Heating oil bills could rise as much as 45 percent, according to a recently released forecast from the Energy Information Administration of the federal Department of Energy. Natural gas could see an increase of 19 percent and propane as much as 22 percent.
Capturing a genre
ONEONTA - Some of the faces appear calm. Others are distorted by concentration - the lips pursed around the mouthpiece of a saxophone or stretched wide around the lyrics of a song.
Former Star reporter, editor, manager dies
Francis A. "Frank" Perretta, who was reporter, editor and assistant general manager for The Daily Star during a near 20-year span, died Monday afternoon after a long illness. He was 72. Perretta retired from the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, Pa., in December 1995, capping a 38-year career with Ottaway Newspapers, the newspaper's parent company. After retiring, Perretta continued writing his Sunday column for the newspaper.
Protesters object to U.S. stance on Iraq
ONEONTA — More than 75 area residents protested a probable war against Iraq during a demonstration on Main Street on Tuesday in honor of International Human Rights Day. The three-and-a-half-hour event, organized by Citizens' Alternative Voice, had the largest turnout of any demonstration organized by the group, formed last year, members said.
CSEA lawsuit against city is over duties
ONEONTA — The city is being sued by its local Civil Service Employees Association over a dispute involving the duties of city police dispatchers. The Oneonta Police Department's two female dispatchers, also named as petitioners in the suit, claim their responsibility of having to check on prisoners in city lock-up is not in their job description.
Oneonta school project gets voter OK
ONEONTA — Voters approved a $14.7 million school district building project Tuesday by a vote of 182 to 46, district officials said Tuesday night. Construction, which will affect all five district buildings, could begin in summer 2004, after a more specific plan is designed and state Education Department officials approve the plan, Superintendent James Piscitelli said.
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Rats sent scurrying around Sidney
SIDNEY — Buildings in the Sherwood Heights area were not as vacant as originally thought, officials said Monday. Rats that apparently lived in some of the 19 vacant buildings demolished in Sherwood Heights this summer have moved to nearby houses, creating concerns for residents. Village officials told nearly dozen people who attended Monday's board meeting that steps have been taken to correct the problem and prevent similar situations. Sidney Mayor Jim Warren said complaints the village recently received about rats have been traced to a stone wall near Lincoln Drive. Warren said it was "possible the rats came out of the Sherwood Heights region." Officials "never thought there would be rats" living in the buildings, he said.
Groups lose bed-tax funds
Next year will be rough without the aid of county bed-tax dollars to help promote community events, local tourism and non-profit group representatives said Monday. Earmarked in the past to help fund area tourism-related organizations, Otsego County's Bed-Tax Grant Program for 2003 was recently suspended by the county board.
Well-traveled author releases seventh book
When David Lee Drotar was growing up in Sidney during the 1950s and '60s, he never expected to spend so much time traveling. But, the free-lance author and journalist has just published a book of essays about his journeys ranging from Thailand and France to New York City.
Teens plead for smoke-free stars
ONEONTA —They say it's a common scene: a glamorous movie star lighting up on the big screen. And these teens also say they aren't buying it. Area teenagers participating in a statewide program called Reality Check are engaged in a letter-writing campaign to petition Hollywood to stop showing smoking in films aimed at youths.
Parents say it's too cold to play
A local school's decision to let students play outside in freezing temperatures has some parents steamed. But school officials said Monday a little fresh, cold air is good for the children.
Hartwick hires Pa. firm for president search
ONEONTA — Hartwick College officials have hired a firm to search for a new president. RPA Inc., a Williamsport, Pa.-based firm that specializes in executive recruitment for colleges and universities, will help a 10-member committee replace Richard A. Detweiler, college officials said Friday.
One of two teens gains youthful status in Delaware court
DELHI — Two 17-year-olds appeared in Delaware County Court on Monday, but only one was granted youthful offender status. Francis J. Ricca of Oneonta pleaded guilty to a reduced count of second-degree assault, a felony. Ricca was originally charged with first-degree assault.
Monday, December 9, 2002
Schools: Plan leaves us behind
Roxbury Central School Superintendent James Proper compares the nation's schools to a race between an old, run-down Volkswagen and a brand-new Ferrari. No matter how talented the Volkswagen's driver and mechanics, the Ferrari will always win, Proper said. Like the Ferrari, richer school districts — with higher incomes and wealthier parents — will always come out ahead when it comes to standardized tests, Proper said. And federal No Child Left Behind regulations, finalized and released last week, may not help, Proper said. "The government wants the best education possible, so it's providing a model of competition," Proper said. "The industrial model is not a good fit here, because we are not making widgets and cars and computers here — we're molding human beings."
State budget could be 'a real mess'
ALBANY — It's time to say goodbye to the boom times, adios to the steady stream of tax cuts and so long to years of new road construction and miles of fresh blacktop. It's time to feel the pain.
Crunch's anticipated effects
ALBANY — Following are snapshots of how various state agencies and services may get hit by the budget crisis.
Philanthropist, Fenimore benefactor honored
COOPERSTOWN - Eugene Thaw, who formerly had a country house in Cherry Valley, has been honored by the American Association of Museums to receive this year's medal for distinguished philanthropy.
Caring Neigbors
Late last month, 90-year-old Hazel McShane didn't have any way to get to her podiatrist appointment. Unable to drive, and needing treatment for the arthritis in her feet, the Mount Vision resident called the Caring Neighbors program.
College looks to improve its 4-year grad rate
ONEONTA — State University College at Oneonta student Russell Coppola has been in school five years, and he's only a junior. Changing his major twice and transferring colleges twice held him back, Coppola said. "Next year I am taking full loads of classes so I can graduate," said Coppola, 23. "I am ready to go."
UCCCA awards school grants
ONEONTA — The Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts has announces that nine area schools will benefit from the 2002-2003 round of the Artist Residency/Partnership grants program. In its seventh year, the program had $15,400 available to teachers of kindergarten through Grade 12 in school districts in Otsego and Delaware counties.
Board to seek new bids on Milford corner store
MILFORD —The Milford Corner Store building is on the market —again, village officials said. The village will start soliciting bids this week, said acting mayor Sabine Curry. Bids will be accepted at the village office until Dec. 20.
Saturday, December 7, 2002
Renowned cooking couple sweeten Delhi
DELHI — A group of culinary arts students at the State University College of Technology at Delhi got a treat Friday when two renowned pastry chefs dazzled them with chocolate. Pastry chefs Steve Klc and Colleen Apte of Washington, D.C., work their sweet magic making cakes and chocolate sculptures that have been featured at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, White House dinners and the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary celebration. Their work has appeared in Food Arts, Flaunt, Business Week and Bride's. Their haute couture chocolate fashions have been featured on the runways of New York and Paris. Their firm, Pastryarts.com works with culinary schools, restaurants, wineries and chocolate companies — including Chocolates El Rey, Michel Cluizel, Godiva and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association.
Whooping cough surfaces in Oneonta
ONEONTA — Oneonta City School District students are among the five confirmed and 21 probable cases of the highly contagious disease known as whooping cough, Otsego County health officials said Friday. Those who have contracted or are likely to have contracted the disease are from the Oneonta area and range in age from 5 months to 18 and older, said county Public Health Director Kathryn Abernethy, whose office has been tracking the cases.
Trout Creek man dies after being hit by car
WALTON — A Trout Creek man was hit by a car in the CVS parking lot Wednesday and suffered fatal injuries, as his wife waited nearby unaware he was the victim, Walton Police Chief Mel Woodin said Friday. Roland "Orvie" Martin, 79, was walking to his car at about 1:35 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle driven by David J. Machado, 41, of Sidney Center, Woodin said.
Chenengo United Way may fall short
Area United Way campaigns are reporting mixed results, with one perennial success story reporting a potential problem. "Things are not going well," said Elizabeth Monaco, the executive director of Chenango United Way. "We are projecting a 10 percent shortfall in this year's campaign. If we don't make the goal ($550,000) this will be the first year," since the organization started in 1948.
Phone repair to cost more
COOPERSTOWN - The cost to bypass a faulty link in Otsego County's microwave telephone system has risen by about $8,500, according to Roy Althiser, who heads up the county's Communications Department.
B&B moratorium to be discussed
COOPERSTOWN - The village of Cooperstown's 90-day moratorium on tourist accommodations will be discussed at two meetings next week. At 10 a.m. Monday, Mayor Carol Waller will play host to an informal meeting of officials and bed-and-breakfast owners in the village boardroom. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the village of Cooperstown Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the moratorium.
Friday, December 6, 2002
Spirits brighten with lights in Oneonta
ONEONTA — A crowd of revelers celebrated a snowy beginning to the holiday season Thursday night during the city's annual tree-lighting in the Main Street Plaza. "I think it's great that we have snow," said Kathy Fulton, who went to the tree-lighting with her 8-year-old daughter, Mikayla. "It gets us in the spirit." Snow fell quickly, coating the tree — which was officially lit at 6 p.m. — with white flakes. Area residents — bundled in coats, hats, mittens and scarves — rode in a horse-drawn carriage, told Santa their wishes, visited with Dancer and Prancer and sipped hot cocoa and cider while celebrating the beginning of the season.
Snow ties up local roads
Snowy conditions in the area caused cancellations Thursday afternoon and night and made for slippery driving conditions both on highways and city streets. Still, the wintry weather wasn't as extreme as in some areas of the country, such as New York City, where accumulations were the highest since December of 2000.
Area health insurance up 8-15%
ONEONTA - Health insurance providers serving the area are reporting premium increases from 8 percent to 15 percent for next year, reflecting the national trend. Capital District Physicians' Health Plan Inc., known as CDPHP, will have an average 15 percent increase, according to spokeswoman Ellen Boyle.
Class to keep warm reading
Despite several inches of snow outside, Elaine Reed's third-graders at Unadilla Elementary School will enjoy all the comforts today of reading on a warm, sunny beach.
Activists tell Albany: Freeze SUNY tuition
ALBANY — Worried that tuition hikes and financial-aid cuts will play prominently in the state's effort to close a massive budget shortfall, college students and activists Thursday converged on the Capitol, urging lawmakers to leave higher education off the chopping block.
Business Beat: Video store owner 'tired' of business
Video to Rol on Main Street in Oneonta is for sale. "I was tired of doing the same thing." said Steve Fein, the store's owner for nine years. "You can only watch so many movies. It's time to move on." How many movies? Fein estimates the number he's seen to be in the thousands, citing his personal movie collection of some 4,000 titles and the store's inventory of the same amount.
Three homes on the way to Sherwood Heights
SIDNEY — The redevelopment of Sherwood Heights is expected to become more visible by mid-December with the arrival of the first three homes for families moving into the area, officials said.
Sex abuse gets man two years in prison
COOPERSTOWN - A McDonough man was sentenced to two years in prison in Otsego County Court on Monday for first-degree sexual abuse. Donald H. Carney, 29, of McDonough pleaded guilty Oct. 15. By the terms of his sentence, he must provide a DNA sample and will be registered as a sexual offender.
Thursday, December 5, 2002
Otsego plan has 11.9 percent tax levy hike
COOPERSTOWN - By a vote of 9 to 4 at Wednesday's meeting, the Otsego County Board of Representatives adopted a $74,993,053 budget for 2003. The budget will require a property tax levy of $11,121,044, or 11.9 percent more than this year's budget, according to county Treasurer Theodora Moore. Voting against the budget were Reps. Kevin Hodne, D-Oneonta, Roberta Puritz, D-Oneonta, Charles Bateman, R-Cooperstown, and Donald Lindberg, R-Worcester. The board started the day with a budget some $108,000 smaller, but the number moved steadily higher as the day progressed. Most of the additional expenses the board approved Wednesday will come from the county's occupancy tax, but two items, $5,000 for the county's share of the increased cost of confining rabid animals, and $29,000 for a certified occupational therapist assistant at the county's nursing home, The Meadows, drove up the levy .33 percent.
Local deacon becomes priest at St. Mary's
ONEONTA —After a journey from a Warsaw suburb to Walnut Street, St. Mary's deacon Tomasz Babiuch was ordained as a priest Saturday at the Church of St. James in Albany. The native of Zuromin, Poland, said he started thinking seriously about the priesthood after high school.
Group to study charges of racism
Recent incidents of alleged racial bias in Otsego and Delaware counties have sparked the formation of a task force to speak out and educate against civil rights injustices.
Plenty show, but few comment on Delaware budget
DELHI — More than 70 people attended a public hearing on the proposed 2003 Delaware County budget Wednesday, but only a few had comments or questions. Delhi Supervisor Gary Manning, the county budget director, opened the meeting.
Otsego reps deny waste-fee raise
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County Board of Representatives voted Wednesday not to raise the county's solid waste user fee, but that doesn't mean residents won't pay more for garbage removal next year.
Mail, e-mail scam too tempting for some
DELHI — Everyone can use a little cash during the holiday season, so an e-mail offering thousands or even millions of dollars for helping someone move money around might be tempting. The Delaware County Sheriff's Department, however, is warning people it's a scam.
Oneonta school board names new member
ONEONTA — The city school district Board of Education filled its empty seat at a meeting Wednesday night at Center Street Elementary School. Priscilla Wightman, an accounting professor at Hartwick College, was appointed by the board and began voting on proposals immediately.
Wednesday, December 4, 2002
Decoy maker the real thing with carving
NEW KINGSTON — A Ruddy Turnstone, carved by Richard Connell of New Kingston, will be one of 400 birds to decorate this year's White House Christmas tree. First Lady Laura Bush ushered in the Christmas season at the White House on Monday when the 18-foot Noble fir that will grace the Blue Room arrived from Elma, Wash. Connell's ornament will hang on the tree. Connell, 64, is a decoy carver, a sculptor and a conservationist who has been fascinated with shore birds and carving since he was a child growing up in Bayside on Long Island. "I have always lived around water and marshes, and I have been whittling since I was 10," Connell said. "My father was always working with wood, and I started carving by using up his scraps."
Retailers: Season off to good start
ONEONTA — Despite gloomy economic forecasts, some area retailers reported Tuesday the holiday shopping season is off to a good start. "Shopping was brisk right from when we opened the doors at 6 a.m.," David Barrow, manager of J.C. Penney Co. Inc., said of Friday's sales. "Saturday is traditionally slower, and yet it was a very good day compared to last year."
Otsego system needs help
COOPERSTOWN - Otsego County's microwave system — used to dispatch emergency services and police — has to be fixed immediately, county officials said Tuesday. For a number of years one link in the system, which connects the county office building with the public safety building, has been misfiring periodically.
City council adopts $13.2 million budget
ONEONTA — There wasn't a peep from the public about the proposed 2003 Oneonta city budget, which was adopted by aldermen Tuesday. No one showed up at the 7:30 p.m. council meeting in City Hall to comment on the $13,239,078 spending plan that includes a 5.9 percent tax rate increase.
Family seeks housing after fire
A New Lisbon man said he and his family are trying to get back on their feet after losing their home Thanksgiving night to a fire. James Pagillo said on Tuesday he and his fiancee, who is pregnant, and four children returned at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday from Thanksgiving dinner at a relative's house to see smoke coming from their rented two-story home on county Highway 12.
Delaware hearing on budget today
DELHI — The Delaware County Board of Supervisors will hold a public meeting on the proposed 2003 county budget in the Sen. Charles D. Cook County Office Building on Main Street in Delhi at 1 p.m. today.
Meetings on G-MU school building needs set
COPES CORNER - Residents of the Gilbertsville-Mount Upton School District will have two opportunities this month to discuss the need for a building project, officials said. Committees that have been studying the subject will meet to discuss their findings and get comments from the public at Stone's Restaurant and Farm House in Mount Upton tonight and at Gilbertsville Grange Hall on Dec. 10, officials said. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m.
Defendants appear in county court on burglary charges
DELHI — Three men charged in separate burglaries appeared in Delaware County Court on Monday. • Michael R. Barber, 21, of Binghamton was arraigned on a felony charge of third-degree burglary, three felony charges of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and three misdemeanor charges of petit larceny.
State oversees most recent tests for coal tar in Neahwa Park
ONEONTA — More tests are being conducted on a site in Oneonta's Neahwa Park to determine the extent to which coal tar, a carcinogen, has contaminated the area. State Department of Environmental Conservation officials are overseeing the latest investigation at the former Oneonta Manufactured Gas Plant site, near Damaschke Field.
Tuesday, December 3, 2002
Natives return, to Applebee's
ONEONTA — The new restaurant in town is going to be operated by some familiar hometown faces. Otsego County natives Brian Mathewson, Ian Porto and Angela Bridges have come back to the area to help run the much-anticipated Applebee's restaurant, which is scheduled to open later this month at the Southside Mall. All will serve as managers. Applebee's general manager Steve Colwell is also an Oneonta native, but he was not available Monday for comment. "This is the best place to live," said Porto, 28, who grew up in Cooperstown, went to college in Virginia and managed an Applebee's in Virginia Beach before moving back to the area. Porto, who graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in sports medicine, decided the food service industry was more to his taste.
Budget concerns arise at hearing
COOPERSTOWN - About 100 people braved snowy roads to attend Monday night's hearing at the county courthouse on the proposed 2003 Otsego County budget. The $74,7885,756 budget would increase appropriations $1,640,001 — or 2.24 percent — and increase the property tax levy by $1,149,390, or 11.57 percent, according to county Treasurer Theodora Moore.
Unadilla dump plan opposed at hearing
UNADILLA — The speakers at Monday's hearing on a controversial landfill were about 5-to-1 opposed to the change in the law that would allow it to operate.
Bassett program looks out for kids' health
A group of children stop by the local McDonald's after school, looking for a snack. As they scan the menu, one of the factors they consider, besides taste or budget, is nutritional value. Wishful thinking? Not if a group of researchers gets its way.
Two sentenced for breaking in
DELHI — Two men who repeatedly broke into a Walton business were sentenced in Delaware County Court on Monday. Philip E. Wormuth, 25, and Thomas Howard, 22, were each charged with three felony counts of third-degree burglary and three counts of petit larceny.
Workshop crowd exceeds expectations
SIDNEY — With many area schools scrambling to find substitute teachers, one BOCES branch held a recruitment day Monday to do something about the shortage.
Monday, December 2, 2002
Wish upon a train
MILFORD —Three-year-old Zachery Lawshe waved from the cab of the train's engine Sunday, a conductor's cap perched on his head. Zachery, a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, was set for a ride on the Leatherstocking Railway, arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "I waited 'til two days ago to tell him," said his mother, Phyllis Patterson. "I knew there was going to be a lot of excitement. Every time we would get in the car, he thought we were going on the train." Sunday's train ride, a three-hour trip to Cooperstown and back, also featured a visit from Santa Claus, arts and crafts, and early Christmas gifts. Zachery's mother, his grandmother Frances Donovan, who was visiting from Long Island, and Zachery's younger sister, Shayna, 2, came along for the ride.
Blood donors in giving mood
SIDNEY — Some people began the holiday season Friday in Sidney by making a unique donation. A growing number of people are making the annual American Red Cross Blood Drive at the First Congregational Church a tradition, officials said.
Dozens gather for memorial to AIDS victims
ONEONTA —One by one they rose from their seats and picked up a small white candle. With a few words, or just a name, they lit the candles and placed them in a basket of sand. Slightly more than 30 people gathered for a World AIDS Day memorial service at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Oneonta Sunday evening.
Otsego budget hearing tonight
The Otsego County Board of Representatives will have a public hearing on its proposed 2003 county budget at 7:30 p.m. today in the county courthouse in Cooperstown. The spending plan proposes to increase the tax levy by 11.57 percent. Besieged by Medicaid and other health-care expenses, the board has wrangled for weeks with the problem of finding revenues to avoid layoffs, while facing tax increases in the 20-percent range.
Homeless shelter still faces court ruling
ONEONTA—An appeal filed in an Oneonta couple's civil suit against the construction of a proposed homeless shelter in Oneonta is expected to be heard in court early next year. Marc Spaziani and Gina Colone-Spaziani are basing the appeal on a 2001 state Supreme Court decision, which dismissed their claim that the city illegally zoned a piece of property in the Sixth Ward to make way for the shelter.
