Weighted voting to go before board Wednesday
The Otsego County Board of Representatives is scheduled to introduce a local law on weighted voting at Wednesday's meeting. But even if the plan is ultimately approved, it won't take effect until 2006, according to county Attorney James Konstanty. The reason for the lag time is that candidates are already running for the board this year, hoping to represent people under the current format, as one of 14 members who each have the same vote, he said "A change to weighted voting would be a significant change," Konstanty said.
Area poverty data expected to climb
ONEONTA - Recent poverty rates for Delaware and Otsego counties haven't been published yet, but some in the social service field say they have seen an increase in people seeking assistance.
Area professor honored nationally
ONEONTA — Hartwick College Associate Dean Harry Bradshaw Matthews was honored this month for his work in connecting descendants of black Civil War veterans.
Unadilla history buffs to meet
A meeting of historical proportions will take place tonight in Unadilla as residents meet to chart the course of a new organization that will be responsible for operating a museum on Main Street.
Assault suspects appeared Monday in Delaware court
DELHI — Three men charged with assault appeared in Delaware County Court on Monday. Jesse L. VanLoan, 19, of Hancock was arraigned on a charge of first-degree assault.
Watershed group awards loans
MARGARETVILLE — Two Delaware County businesses were awarded low-interest loans from the Catskill Watershed Corp. at the Board of Directors meeting Sept. 23.
`Yo-yo' a risk, commission says
ONEONTA — State school officials have pledged to help spread the word about a toy that has been called potentially dangerous by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Charities rescind opposition to a taxing issue
ALBANY — After accusing some lawmakers of trying to obliterate charity work in the state, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society have withdrawn their opposition to legislation meant to limit property tax exemptions.
Man charged with reckless endangerment
MIDDLEFIELD —A man was arrested on reckless endangerment and other charges after an accident Saturday that injured himself and five youths, the Otsego County sheriff's office said.
7 nabbed on pot charges
COVENTRY—Seven were arrested on charges of possession of marijuana this weekend, the Chenango County sheriff's office said.
Old-time farmers make a name for themselves
MOUNT VISION — Standing under a homemade wooden cap on the back of his old Dodge pickup Sunday, Les Crawford pulled two draft horses up into the bed. Then, pinned against the front wall, he opened a 2-foot square trap door in the cap's side and slid deftly to the ground. Crawford turns 80 today. He had just returned to the Mount Vision Firemen's Field from a 15-mile wagon ride. Crawford claims the honorary and completely unofficial title of president of the No Name Gang.
SUCO: Alcohol program works
ONEONTA — State University College at Oneonta officials say they have gotten positive results from implementing an alcohol prevention program that was recently panned in a national study.
Girls prepare for nationals
DELHI — Two Delaware County students are gearing up to head for Oklahoma to compete in the Grand National and World Champion Morgan Horse Show that begins Sunday and runs through Oct. 12.
Meeting set on Walton wireless
WALTON — A public information meeting to determine interest in establishing a high-speed wireless Internet pilot project in Walton will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Walton Town Hall, 129 North St.
Dental care is in short supply
At one point, Walton resident Ellen Covell traveled more than 25 miles to take her children to the dentist. Now she travels a couple of blocks. "I've gone to Oneonta, and now that they take Medicaid, the kids are here," Covell said, sitting in the waiting room at Walton Dental on Thursday afternoon. Access to dental care is an issue in the area, but opinions vary as to whether the problem is because of a shortage of dentists, or a lack of affordability.
Sports academy eyes New Berlin site
NEW BERLIN - A school that prepares football and basketball players for college, and sometimes professional sports careers, has signed a $100,000 agreement to purchase the former Unadilla Valley High School building in the village of New Berlin.
Bible gives real look at history
During a re-enactment of the Cherry Valley massacre last weekend that marked the event's 225th anniversary, descendants of Asa Cole, a man killed in the massacre, presented the Cherry Valley Historical Association with Cole's Bible.
Grant to help Delaware main streets
DELHI — Filling empty store fronts and providing incentive to existing businesses is the goal of Delaware County's Main Street Revitalization program, according to Glenn Nealis, county director of economic development.
SUCO profs garner awards
ONEONTA — Two professors at the State University College at Oneonta have been selected for honors in the 2003 SUNY Chancellor's Research Recognition program.
20 graduate from law enforcement academy
ONEONTA — The Otsego County Law Enforcement Academy held its graduation ceremony Friday night for police officers who have completed their basic course at the State University College at Oneonta.
Two nabbed in drug heist at pharmacy
RICHFIELD SPRINGS — Two people were arrested Friday after allegedly breaking into a drug store in Richfield Springs and stealing a variety of drugs, Richfield Springs troopers said.
Museum receives grant for heritage garden
The Farmers' Museum has received a $6,870 grant from the New York Council for the Humanities for a project titled "From Garden to Pharmacy: Nineteenth-Century Design and Function."
Tortoises: The perfect 'zen' pet
HARTWICK - Where do equatorial tortoises live? Twenty of them live on Route 11 in Hartwick at the home of Dr. Lee Robbins, a blacksmith, world traveler and a physician who works at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta. Robbins, who had been a collector of snakes as a younger man, received his first tortoise in 1972. He liked the placid creature and couldn't help noting some striking differences between it and the snakes. "If you feed a mouse to two snakes, the snake that finishes the mouse first may try to eat the other snake, next," said Robbins, 51.
Judge: I won't force redistricting
State Supreme Court Justice Patrick Monserrate has ruled against five Otsego County residents who asked him to force the county Board of Representatives to place a redistricting plan on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Citzen criticizes Charlotte Valley vote
Davenport resident Joseph Spina said he is steamed about what he calls an improper school budget vote that raised taxes 21.72 percent.
Delaware grand jury re-indicts Lopez
DELHI — A Delaware County grand jury Thursday re-indicted a Sidney murder suspect less than a week after a judge threw out the original, according to Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup.
Bail set for three of the `Sidney Seven'
DELHI — Bail has been set in Delaware County Court for three of the seven men charged in the July 12 beating death of Timothy Cutting in Sidney, but none of the defendants has posted bail.
Forum addresses bullying in the classromm
DELHI — Students can't learn if they aren't safe — and students don't feel safe if they are being subjected to bias, harassment and bullying, according to Ross Levi, Empire State Pride Agenda director of public policy and education.
Patches of pot found in crops
It's marijuana harvest time in upstate New York. Growers are nervous, dairy farmers are finding surprises in their corn fields, and police in helicopters, patrol cars and on foot want to make arrests. About a month ago, some children in his neighborhood told dairy farmer Jerry Wood of Route 205 in Mount Vision that pot was growing on his land. "I called it in to state police, but they weren't able to get to it for weeks," Wood said Wednesday.
Medicaid bloating county budgets
The soaring cost of Medicaid will make it hard for most counties in New York state to craft budgets this fall, according to Bob Gregory, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties.
Interim hospital CEO named
DELHI — W. David MacCool will serve as O'Connor Hospital interim chief executive officer while the search for a new administrator continues, Peter Hamilton, chairman of the hospital's board of trustees, said.
Four hurt in three-car crash
COBLESKILL —A three-car accident Monday sent four, including two infants, to the hospital with minor injuries and blocked traffic on state Route 7 for close to two hours, the Schoharie County Sheriff's Department said.
Delaware moves funds to meet jail costs
DELHI — The high cost of boarding prisoners at other county facilities forced the Delaware County Board of Supervisors to transfer an additional $250,000 to the sheriff's department to cover bills on Wednesday.
Animal case lawsuit settled
COOPERSTOWN - A lawsuit that began after a former Otego man was acquitted of animal abuse charges in 1998 ended in Otsego County Supreme Court recently.
Man pleads guilty to robbery, assault
DELHI — A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and second-degree assault in Delaware County Court on Wednesday.
Vane sale generates tempest
GILBERTSVILLE — The sale of an antique weather vane that had perched atop the Butternut Valley Grange for more than a century put an angry wind in some residents' sails Tuesday. Cece Rowe, a Gilbertsville resident and executive director of the Major's Inn, said the deal made her blood boil. "The Grange has overstepped its bounds," she said, her eyes glazing with frustration. "This weather vane has been important to the people in the village since it was put there in 1902." But Grange President Roger Halbert said the sale was in Gilbertsville's best interest.
SUCO gets grant to spur student interest in sciences
ONEONTA — The State University College at Oneonta has been awarded an $800,000 grant to help attract area high school students to potential careers in science and technology.
Legislation in place to raise Delaware tax
DELHI — Gov. George Pataki signed legislation Monday paving the way for Delaware County to increase sales tax by 1 percentage point, to 8.25 percent.
Child neglect case continues
MASONVILLE — The prosecution of a Masonville couple charged with endangering the welfare of four children will resume in about two months, as an investigation is done into their background.
At walk, shelter dog finds a new home
DELHI — The Humane Society of Central Delaware County's first Woofs and Wags Dog Walk and Fair far surpassed expectations, according to Deb Crute, shelter manager.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Autumn colors fall into place
After slogging through a wet summer and taking a pummeling from two major wind storms, foliage experts predict upstate New York will be rewarded with a beautiful fall. Jim Waters, executive director of the Margaretville-based Catskill Forest Association, said autumn, which begins today, is shaping up for brilliance. "All we need are some dark blue fall skies with white puffy clouds, not too much wind and rain, and we should have a great fall," he said. He predicted the best viewing for the first two weeks in October.
A murder indictment dismissed
DELHI — The murder indictment of one of the seven men charged in the July 12 beating death of Timothy Cutting was dismissed Friday by Delaware County Judge Carl Becker.
Barn fire cause sought
FRANKLIN — Fire investigators are still searching for the cause of a Sunday fire in Franklin that destroyed the haymow and damaged the rest of the barn on Otego Road outside the village.
Hobart works on playground project
A group of parents and residents in the Hobart area are working on a project to replace the community playground, according to Scott Jenson, Hobart playground committee chairman.
Supervisor candidates share ideas
The town of Otsego has a supervisor race. Tom Breiten, 45, of state Route 80 has been nominated by the town's Republican Party.
Nursing home faces layoffs, wing closing
DELHI — Empty beds at the Delaware County Countryside Care Center have resulted in layoffs and personnel vacancies, and if more residents don't arrive within a month, a wing of the facility will close, said Kurt Apthorpe, administrator.
Results in on Otego well tests
The Otego landfill near Farone Road, which has been a source of concern for nearby residents as a possible source of pollution, has drawn the interest of two state agencies.
Coalition: Tax bill aimed at nonprofits will hurt
ALBANY — A series of bills meant to make some not-for-profits and religious groups pay property taxes could devastate charity work in New York, a new coalition charged last week.
Little impact seen locally from lending change
A recent change in lending requirements for manufactured home purchases by a national lender is not expected to affect area purchasers, those familiar with the market said.
History comes back with a bang
CHERRY VALLEY — This town was booming Sunday. Besides the crack of Revolutionary War period muskets, blasts from black powder rifle and a cannon's roar, Cherry Valley pulsed with visitors. Cars lined both sides of nearly every street in the village and pedestrians overran sidewalks — they came to witness a re-enactment of the Cherry Valley Massacre, a battle that went wrong for settlers 225 years ago. "This was an exceptional amount of people," Barbara Bell, director of the Cherry Valley Historical Association, said. "It's more than we ever had for the Memorial Day parades."
Local job market showing promise
ONEONTA —In 2001, Mold-A-Matic Corp., a supplier of insert molded parts and assemblies on River Street, was laying off workers.
Local power is returning
ONEONTA —Utility companies said they expected to restore power by the end of the day Sunday to customers without service from the remnants of Hurricane Isabel.
Hartwick president inaugurated
ONEONTA — Amid the pomp and circumstance on the lawn outside Yager Hall, Richard Miller Jr. on Saturday formally eased into his new role as Hartwick College's ninth president.
Three boys, man, 40, killed in house fire
EAST PHARSALIA —A man and three boys were killed Friday night in a fire that may have been caused by candles or kerosene lamps used during a power outage related to the remnants of Hurricane Isabel, fire officials said.
Afton man dies in one-car crash
Randy D. Bolster, 43, of Afton died Sunday in a one-car accident in Bainbridge as he drove home from his sister's surprise birthday party.
About 50 locks cut at self-storage site
ONEONTA —Troopers are investigating the cutting of numerous locks at a self-storage facility on Chestnut Street, state police at Oneonta said.
Saturday, September 20, 2003
Day care ... or nightmare?
ONEONTA — Three local women have lodged written complaints of abuse with the Oneonta police against their children's former day-care provider. The day-care provider, Kerry Eldred, 42, had been referred to them by Catholic Charities despite her documented history of corporal punishment.The allegations include assertions that Eldred hit, force-fed, spanked and neglected children.
Parts of area left in the dark
ONEONTA — Isabel had been downgraded to a tropical depression by the time it passed through the area Friday.
Scouts work to help babies
WALTON — Two Walton Cadet Girl Scouts have decided to become the newborn baby "welcome wagon" ladies to earn their Girl Scout Silver Award.
Agency: Parents must ask for a history of compliance for day-care provider
ONEONTA — Stacey Carrigan, a mother alleging abuse in a day-care home, said that before putting her son in Kerry Eldred's care three years ago, she called the agency that oversees area day care to check Eldred's compliance history.
School tax rates to hit some hard
ONEONTA — Town of Laurens residents who live in the Oneonta City School District will see a big increase in their tax rate for 2003-04.
Firm should call my mom
My mother used to fix herself a peculiar dairy beverage — pouring milk and diet, caffeine-free cola into the same glass.
Assembly to return to Albany on Oct. 8
ALBANY — Assembly members will head back to Albany to give would-be liquor store owners a reprieve and end a stalemate over $200 million in pork-barrel spending, officials said.
Attorney: Judge hints for county
State Supreme Court Judge Patrick Monserrate gave further indications Friday he will rule for Otsego County in a reapportionment case in state Supreme Court, according to county Attorney James Konstanty.
Worker gets $1M in settlement with employer
A man who fell off a roof at the Roxbury Central School on March 11, 1997, received a $1 million settlement on Aug. 11, according to attorney Andrew Genna.
Rats still plague Masonville
Despite earlier reports to the contrary, the problem with rats in Masonville has not gone away, according to several residents.
Stay close to home ...
The fall season will be in full swing during the next month with several autumn-tinged events in the four-county region.
Man to show his 'mogul' in Delhi
DOWNSVILLE — The big orange pumpkin surrounded by lush green leaves in John Chytalo's backyard just might be a prize-winner in the pumpkin contest at the Delhi Harvest Festival on Saturday. Chytalo is a newcomer to the world of raising giant pumpkins, but his son, Eddie Chytalo of Delhi, has been trying to perfect the art for 10 years. Eddie Chytalo said that early this year he got four pumpkin seeds from other giant pumpkin growers around the country and began raising the seedlings in his house.
Hurricane expected to skirt central New York
As Hurricane Isabel continues to veer west, area officials are beginning to breathe a sigh of relief — but emergency plans remain in place in case she heads east again.
Victim changes the system
ONEONTA — Stephanie Fuller can empathize with the Oneonta High School varsity swim team members whose pictures were secretly taken while they dressed in an OHS locker room.
State: Weighted voting is legal
COOPERSTOWN - A spokesman for the New York state Department of State said Thursday that a board of representatives, such as Otsego County's, may institute a system of weighted voting as its redistricting plan.
OHS custodian case shocks parents
ONEONTA — Several Oneonta school district parents say they were shocked to hear about the photographs a former school custodian allegedly took of OHS girls swim team members while they were changing in a school locker room.
Oneonta fire captain to hang up his hat
ONEONTA — A lunch with his wife and a chicken Marsala dinner with his fire station crew — that's what Capt. Don Lamanna planned for his last day at work.
Officials offer safety tips to prepare for storm
Officials have advised residents to prepare for the storm — from preparing for a power outage and avoiding unnecessary travel to taking care of family and pets.
Lambros to be honored for loyalty
ONEONTA — Longtime Hartwick College coach Nicholas Lambros will be honored this weekend for his years of loyalty to the college.
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Emergency centers prepping
Emergency centers are geared up in Delaware and Otsego counties — but officials still said they hope Hurricane Isabel won't hit this area too hard. At 5 p.m. Wednesday, Isabel was classified as a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds near 105 mph, according to the National Weather Service. "The worse-case scenario is that we could get wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and heavy rains," said Glenn Morrison, Delaware County Emergency Services deputy director.
Custodian DeMoney arrested
ONEONTA — An Oneonta High School custodian was arrested Wednesday, city police said, for secretly taking pictures of girls who were changing their clothes in a school locker room.
All locker areas at OHS could be viewed
ONEONTA — Based on the layout of Oneonta High School, unsuspecting boys and girls could have been spied upon in any of the building's locker rooms over the last several years.
State courts won't take part in Otsego redistricting
ALBANY — State courts won't interfere with Otsego County's redistricting process for now, even if it means voters don't get a chance to choose a proposal on Election Day, a judge said Wednesday.
Two angels of mercy for one bird of prey
RICHFIELD SPRINGS - A large red-tailed hawk was returned to the wild Wednesday, thanks to the quick action of two 10th-grade students at Richfield Springs Central School.
Plan being revised for senior housing
Plans for senior housing in the village of Unadilla are still in the works, officials said, as developers revise their proposal to secure needed financing.
Firm wants PILOT
ONEONTA — Lutz Feed Co. has asked the Otsego County Industrial Development Agency for tax breaks to aid the firm with an expansion project.
Sidney district and its teachers ratify contract
SIDNEY — Terms of a new four-year contract for Sidney teachers were disclosed Wednesday following the recent ratification of the pact that runs through July 1, 2006.
Artifacts suspend Lowe's progress
ONEONTA —The presence of archaeological evidence may reconfigure Lowe's plans for a home improvement store on state Highway 23, archaeologists and town officials said Tuesday. A survey conducted over the summer by a firm hired by Lowe's found three areas on the site of the proposed store where American Indians settled before European contact. The store would be on state Highway 23, east of 84 Lumber. Lowe's has an option on the property, which is owned by Otsego County Rep. Hugh Henderson and located near the confluence of the Susquehanna River and Charlotte Creek.
Police probe locker-room photos
ONEONTA — A school custodian has been suspended, Oneonta school district sources said Tuesday, amid a police investigation of a man who allegedly covertly photographed girls changing their clothes in an Oneonta High locker room.
Otsego board panel OKs weighted voting
COOPERSTOWN - By a two-to-one vote Tuesday, Otsego County's InterGovernmental Affairs Committee approved a redistricting plan that would institute a system of weighted voting for the county Board of Representatives.
Attorney says city's Monser plan is flawed
ONEONTA — An attorney for Monser Bros. property owner Howard Gelbsman on Tuesday tried to poke holes in the city's proposed claim on the former tire firm lot.
Bed-tax scofflaws costing county
COOPERSTOWN - Polly Renckens, executive director of Cooperstown's Chamber of Commerce, wants Otsego County to go after bed-tax deadbeats.
Area schools may get extra special ed funds
A number of schools in Otsego and Schoharie counties are anticipated to receive an increase of more than $500,000 in special education funding, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday.
Man killed in one-car crash
COVENTRY — Michael J. Srinsky, 65, of Bainbridge, died Tuesday afternoon after a one-car accident in the town of Coventry, Chenengo County sheriff's deputies said.
Wounded soldier tells S.K. students of his experience
SOUTH KORTRIGHT —Sgt. 1st Class Peter Tiller of Hobart was holding up a small, bright green, plush bunny. "One of the best things I brought home was this," he said. "This was given to me by a little kid for helping his father build a wall." Tiller, a member of the Army's 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, spent five months in Iraq before returning to the United States after he was injured by an explosion in July. He told an auditorium full of South Kortright Central School students Monday afternoon how he helped the boy's father build a wall around the family's home to protect it from looters.
East Coast residents brace for Isabel
ONEONTA — Better to be safe than sorry. Landfall may be a few days off, but with Hurricane Isabel's path potentially tracking across central Pennsylvania into Western New York by the end of the week, local emergency services officials say it isn't too early be prepared for the residue of a major tropical storm.
Grant to help students study Susquehanna
SIDNEY — Students at several schools along the Susquehanna River will get their hands wet in the name of science, thanks to a grant from the parent company of a local employer.
Man charged in Sidney death gets $25k bail
DELHI — Bail was set in Delaware County Court on Monday for one of the seven men charged in the July 12 beating death of Timothy Cutting in Sidney. All of the defendants have been held without bail since the arrests July 13.
Downtown Oneonta gets nomination
ONEONTA —Downtown Oneonta is among 28 properties recommended for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, Commissioner Bernadette Castro of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced Monday.
Clerk: Redistricting not likely to make ballot
COOPERSTOWN - A redistricting plan for the Otsego County Board of Representatives is not likely to appear on the ballot this November, despite a lawsuit scheduled to be aired Wednesday morning in state Supreme Court in Cooperstown.
Presidential adviser Rove to speak in Cooperstown
COOPERSTOWN - Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's chief political adviser, is coming to Cooperstown this weekend to raise money for Rep. Sherwood Boehlert's re-election campaign.
'Pork' stuck in state budget
Area non-profit groups and community organizations waiting for state funding to help finance their operations will have to wait even longer. Earlier this year, lawmakers voted to spend up to $200 million of the state's $93 billion budget on "member items" — commonly referred to as pork-barrel projects — that go to help area governments, not-for-profits and other groups with expenses. And although the legislature later agreed to spend only half of the $200 million for pet projects, Gov. George Pataki's budget office has refused to release that half, saying the money wasn't legally budgeted in the first place.
Walton 'booster' is honored for her years of service
WALTON — A Walton woman was chosen as the Delaware County Office for the Aging 2003 Outstanding Contribution Award winner for her years of dedication to the community, said Tom Briggs, director.
State not likely to revisit smoke ban
ALBANY — The state Legislature's upper house is set to return to Albany on Tuesday to complete business started earlier in the summer, confirm a few appointments to state boards and likely propose a series of energy bills in response to the August blackout.
Pataki vetoes bill to make hunters wear orange
ALBANY —Gov. George Pataki last week vetoed a bill requiring hunters to wear fluorescent-orange clothing to preventing accidental shootings, claiming the legislation was technically flawed.
Rally planned in redistricting controversy
A rally in support of redistricting the Otsego County board will be held Wednesday night, to give people and county representatives a chance to speak on the issue, organizers said.
Women recall `wonderful' league time
COOPERSTOWN - About 125 alumnae of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League gathered in Cooperstown Friday to celebrate the 60th reunion of their league's founding. Friday morning, they assembled in Cooper Park, adjacent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which 15 years ago installed its Women in Baseball exhibit honoring their achievements. Cooperstown's mayor, Carol Waller, and Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey welcomed the women, who played in a league founded in 1943, in the midst of World War II.
Talking up a storm — but not in school
ONEONTA — If Oneonta High School students use cell phones in class, they get a bad reception from school officials, who banned the devices a few years ago.
GOP, Dems swap players
EDMESTON - Two weeks ago, Edmeston's Republicans nominated a Democrat, Amanda Conklin of Dutch Valley Road, to be their town judge.
Former superintendent loses suit against district
COOPERSTOWN - Hans W. Dellith, former superintendent of the Oneonta School District, has lost his lawsuit against the district and been ordered to pay the district $22,063.
Fall raptor count under way
The annual southbound migration of birds through the upper Susquehanna region and the Catskills has begun, and with it comes the start of the local Audubon Society's hawkwatch at the group's sanctuary on Franklin Mountain near Oneonta.
Region pauses for 9/11
ONEONTA —Hundreds gathered at the State University College at Oneonta on Thursday night to commemorate the events of Sept. 11. Most of those standing in the quad between Fitzelle Hall and the Fine Arts Building were students. Some held candles. Some wept, and were comforted by their neighbors. The Oneonta Choir and the Chamber singers performed. Students and staff read poems and essays, or told their own stories.
Bainbridge fire ruled suspicious
BAINBRIDGE — The cause of the Monday fire that destroyed Smok'in Daves restaurant in Bainbridge has been ruled suspicious, Chenango deputies said.
New taxi company increases competition
ONEONTA —A new cab company has alleged that some of the competition isn't following the rules on inspections, plates and other issues.
`I grew up that day' — student attending SUCO
ONEONTA — On the night of Sept. 11, 2001, Rebecca Satkin walked into a bedroom in her family's apartment on West 28th Street, shut tight the curtains against a damaged Manhattan skyline and did what she had always done whenever something very bad happened. The 16-year-old sat down and wrote about it. She described Sept. 11 as she knew it — a day that began with her limitless expectations as a high school senior — and ended with the realization that the world is not all good, and that life shouldn't be taken for granted.
9/11 attacks promopt family to hasten move to area
For her children, Mary Ellen Guzy said, their new home in Bainbridge is like living in a park. "There's a large two-acre pond on the property, and my kids absolutely love it," she said of her two daughters — Natasha, 12, and Ivana, 10. "They've adopted all of the fish as their pets, and they love going out on the power boat." Guzy, her husband, John —recently retired from the New York City Police Department —and her daughters are among those who have moved to the area from downstate since 9/11.
Woman, 90, named senior citizen of the year
TREADWELL — A 90-year-old Treadwell woman, who is spurred by seemingly endless energy, has been honored for contributions to the community. Elsie Davidson was named Delaware County Senior Council 2003-04 Senior Citizen of the Year, according to Edward Nichols, council president.
Five sue to get redistricting on Otsego ballot
Five Otsego County residents are suing the Otsego County Board of Representatives, trying to compel the board to adopt a redistricting plan and put it on the ballot this Nov. 4.
GOP: We'll back primary winner
Otsego County's Republican Party will rally behind Kathy Sinnott-Gardner, the Republican nominee for county clerk, and work to elect her in November, Charlotte Koniuto, party chairwoman, said Wednesday. "We're disappointed, but the voters have spoken," said Koniuto, referring to Sinnott-Gardner's victory Tuesday over the county Republican Committee's endorsed candidate, Cynthia Lipari of Oneonta.
Delaware considers revenue sources
DELHI — The Delaware County Board of Supervisors is exploring the possibility of developing a not-for-profit agency through the county's Social Services department to reduce costs and expenses affecting the county's tax base.
Delaware projects get grants
DELHI — Four Delaware County projects have received a total of $1.4 million in grants to help with housing, infrastructure and economic development, Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said Monday.
Otsego Chamber gets advice from its members
ONEONTA —Members of the Otsego County Chamber said they want the group to focus on promoting business participation in government and education, retaining young people and other issues to make the area more business friendly.
Man pinned by tractor dies
MEREDITH — A man from Staten Island died Wednesday morning after being thrown from his tractor and pinned underneath it, Delaware deputies said.
Sinnott-Gardner wins clerk race
Kathy Sinnott-Gardner won a nearly 2-to-1 victory over Cynthia Lipari in Tuesday's Republican primary to become the party's nominee for Otsego County clerk. That contest was Otsego County's only countywide race. However, in another Republican primary in District 2 of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, incumbent Rep. James Powers of Butternuts received about 60 percent of the vote, beating Tom Enstrom of Pittsfield.
Police call stretches across generations
A family tradition in law enforcement more than 350 years old continued last month with Otego native Mark Case's promotion to captain in the Rochester Police Department.
Nader gets the Republican OK
ONEONTA — With a turnout of 86 voters, Sixth Ward Republicans on Tuesday gave the nod to incumbent Alderman Michael Nader over challenger Gerard Webster by a 20-vote margin.
Cause of fire remains undetermined
BAINBRIDGE — Investigators sifted through the burned-out remains of Smok'in Daves restaurant on state Route 7 in Bainbridge on Tuesday.
Cooperstown home has new contractor
COOPERSTOWN - A new contractor is overseeing the reconstruction of the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home in Cooperstown, according to the home's administrator Patricia Donnelly.
Sidney board debates new law
SIDNEY — Consideration of a new law and hiring an employee were on the agenda Monday at Sidney's village board meeting, officials said.
Farmer: Coyotes went `kill crazy'
DAVENPORT — The 10 dead sheep lying in a Davenport field Monday, some hardly torn open, are the work of coyotes, farmer Arthur Hillis said. Pointing to a group of bloated carcasses in his field, Hillis said he has had coyote problems in the past, but what happened early Sunday morning appeared to be a killing spree. "They went kill crazy," Hillis said, "They didn't eat them, they just killed one and went on to another."
State test standards a moving target
Norwich City School Superintendent William Kennedy on Monday gave an analogy about a bear climbing a mountain to describe what he says are increasingly unreachable goals set down by the state Education Department.
GOP to have primaries locally today
Today is primary election day, and the only countywide races are for the Republican nomination for county clerk in Otsego County and treasurer in Schoharie County.
Fire strikes area restaurant
BAINBRIDGE — The cause of a fire Monday morning that closed down a section of Route 7 in Bainbridge for more than 7 hours was still under investigation by late afternoon, officials said. The fire that gutted Smok'in Daves restaurant began around 4:30 a.m., fire officials said.
Funeral home offers 9/11 remembrance
ONEONTA —A memorial room opened Monday to mark the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Hall renovations pick up speed
COOPERSTOWN - Now that the summer tourism season is over, the speed of renovations at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has increased dramatically.
Delhi hospital breaks ground on $5M expansion project
DELHI — A crowd gathered on the front lawn of O'Connor Hospital in Delhi on Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony to announce a $5 million expansion and renovation project.
Millionaire arraigned on theft of stones
DELHI — The millionaire who allegedly engineered the theft of century-old capstones from historic stone walls, cemeteries and church sidewalks appeared in Delaware County Court on Monday.
Fire destroys auction complex
WEST EDMESTON - A fire that started in a grain elevator motor spread quickly Sunday afternoon and destroyed the Welch Livestock Auction complex on state Route 8 in the town of Columbus. A 46-cow dairy, set to be auctioned off today, was safely removed from the barn "At least no one was hurt and we got all the cows out," owner Howard Mattice said Sunday afternoon from across the road, as smoke billowed from the old barn. The fire was first observed by Stewart Tuttle, an employee, said Mattice.
Clerk candidates face off Tuesday in GOP primary
COOPERSTOWN - In Tuesday's primary election, Otsego County Republicans will chose either Kathy Sinnott-Gardner or Cynthia Lipari as their nominee for Otsego County clerk.
Two seek Republican backing in board run
COOPERSTOWN - Republicans James Powers of Butternuts and Tom Enstrom of Pittsfield will face each other in Tuesday's primary to determine the party's nominee for the District Two seat on the Otsego County Board of Representatives.
Dog days continue Saturday in Delhi
DELHI — Delhi is going to the dogs Saturday, when the Humane Society of Central Delaware County's First Annual Woofs and Wags Dog Walk and Fair kicks off at the Delhi American Legion Field from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Astronaut to speak at SUCO
ONEONTA — Apollo astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt, one of the last two humans to walk on the moon, will speak on "Full Moon, Old Earth — The Unique Perspective of an Apollo Astronaut" at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Hunt Union Ballroom at the State University College at Oneonta.
Local group nurtures community of writers
Both published authors and people who want help in telling their life stories have found support from the Afton's Writers Group, which meets at 4 p.m. every third Thursday at the Afton Library.
GOP to offer primaries in Delaware
Republican voters in the towns of Walton, Stamford and Masonville on Tuesday will choose town and county supervisor candidates to seek election in November. The stories below focus on the issues in the three primary election races for supervisor in those towns. There also are other races in several Delaware towns.
SUCO panel updates code of conduct
ONEONTA — The State University College at Oneonta's code of student conduct has been beefed up to handle potential bias-related incidents.
Two held after thefts
Two people charged with breaking into the CVS/Pharmacy in Margaretville are being held without bail in the Delaware County jail, state police at Margaretville said.
Arts center may get $250,000
ONEONTA — Another chunk of federal funding is expected to go toward construction of a planned performing arts center on Market Street in Oneonta.
G-MU to present building plans
COPES CORNERS — Residents in the Gilbertsville-Mount Upton School District will have an opportunity to hear plans for a school building project that will be on the ballot Sept. 30, school officials said.
Area to get emergency preparedness funds
The Oneonta region will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars so that communities and health-care providers are better prepared to respond to terrorism attacks and other emergencies, the Pataki administration said Thursday.
GED program is, to some, a 'life-saver'
ONEONTA — "You are the author of your own life story." That simple sentence is written on a banner above the door of a classroom in Oneonta, where people are given a second chance to earn a high school degree. Emma Allende of Hancock, Maine, earned her General Equivalency Diploma last spring through the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) for migrant and seasonal farmworkers at Bugbee School.
Bar owners: Smoking ban will hurt in winter
ONEONTA —Claiming business has been down since an indoor smoking ban went into effect in July, some area bar owners said they would consider asking for a waiver from the law.
Farmers sound off
DELHI — South Kortright dairy farmer Barbara Hanselman says society feels a cheap supply of milk is a given.
Panel to weigh in on future of NASA
The House Science Committee held the first in a series of hearings Thursday on the Columbia space shuttle accident that killed seven astronauts.
National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta plans expansion
ONEONTA - Additions to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame will turn the campus into a year-round facility, and some components could be built by 2006, President and Chief Executive Officer William Lunn said Tuesday.
Alderman to run for second term
ONEONTA — Third Ward Alderman Julie Carney said Tuesday she would seek a second term on the Oneonta Common Council.
Thursday, September 4, 2003
Library books a photo exhibit
SIDNEY — The works of a Bovina photographer adorn the walls of the community room of the Sidney Memorial Library as it inaugurates a new space to highlight area talent and activities. The photographs are part of "At Play — Performances in Delaware County," an exhibit by Dutch-born painter Corneel Verlaan, who described his work as "a celebration of local talent and activities including plays and music."
Stabbed man says he's `lucky'
ONEONTA — A 25-year-old Oneonta man was recovering at the hospital Wednesday after being stabbed by a mental patient on Tuesday afternoon, Oneonta police said.
Dems fail to revive Otsego redistricting
COOPERSTOWN - The Otsego County Board of Representatives will not be placing a redistricting proposal on the ballot for county residents to vote on in November.
Firms may seek waiver to smoking ban
ALBANY — There could soon be exceptions to the new ban on smoking in businesses and public gathering spots statewide.
Judge: DNA test not required
DELHI — A Meridale teenager charged with robbing Smoker's Choice in Delhi on Feb. 13 and setting a fire at Delaware Academy on May 22 does not have to submit to DNA testing.
Camp helps mourners heal
DELHI — Anna Bubko said she had a wonderful time meeting new friends and sharing memories of her father at Camp Forget-Me-Not — and she can't wait to go back every year.
Otsego board hears veterans, fills spots
COOPERSTOWN — Wednesday's meeting of the Otsego County Board of Representatives began with military veterans telling board members that services for them have not been up to par.
Pataki creates group to revise aid formula
ALBANY — Gov. George Pataki announced Wednesday the creation of a bi-partisan commission charged with finding ways to overhaul the state's maligned education-aid formula.
School enrollment is up in Oneonta
ONEONTA — Projected enrollment for the Oneonta City School District for 2003-04 is slightly more than what was originally expected, Superintendent James Piscitelli told school board members Wednesday.
Couple pleads innocent of abuse
MASONVILLE — Two parents charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in Masonville on Friday pleaded innocent at an arraignment Tuesday in Masonville Town Court. Kevin M. Burns, 28, was released on $500 bail, and Kristina J. Armando, 23, was released on $500 bond. They are to appear Sept. 23.
Speakers give school staffs tips for the year
ONEONTA — A titter rippled through the Oneonta High School auditorium Tuesday as Geoff Smith, Class of 1965, squeezed his man's body into the letter sweater he wore as a boy.
Artist's painting featured in teaching magazine
A New Berlin art instructor made the jump into international recognition when her work was featured in the July/August issue of The Decorative Painter magazine.
Delaware County audit results in
DELHI — Controlling employee turnover and addressing escalating overtime pay are two issues Delaware County officials need to work on, according to a report issued by the state Comptroller's Office.
Teachers break out their wallets
ONEONTA — Ariann Tubia's classroom at Riverside Elementary School is an explosion of color, not unlike what will happen outside in a few weeks when the leaves turn fiery yellow, candy-apple red and blazing orange. It is virtually impossible to picture her kindergarten class as it was a couple of weeks ago — barren of posters, bright borders and the personal touches only a teacher can create to entice a child to learn.
4 children found locked in room
Two Masonville parents were charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, after their children were found locked in a room, partly covered in human feces and suffering from sores and bite marks, state police at Sidney said.
Scout helps right markers of the past
MEREDITH — Matthew Oliver wandered through the historic Meredith Square Cemetery on Friday, picking up fallen tree branches and smiling as he surveyed the restored graveyard.
Police make scores of arrests
ONEONTA — With college students back in town and out of class for the long Labor Day weekend, Oneonta police said many turned to downtown bars and house parties for entertainment.
Local telethon breaks record with $65,592
ONEONTA — In the bright television lights inside the Oneonta Elks Club on Monday night, organizers of the annual muscular dystrophy telethon raised a record $65,592.
Educators like idea of students on school boards
ONEONTA — A new state law encouraging school districts to let students sit on school boards as nonvoting members will apply to a number of area schools.
Paint manufacturer plans expansion
A New Berlin manufacturer of artist's paints will have ceremonial groundbreaking on Friday for a new addition to its facility in Columbus, officials said.
Local groups plan festival for peace
ONEONTA —A Peace Festival will be held in Neahwa Park Sunday, sponsored by Citizens Alternative Voice of Oneonta and Delaware County Voices for Peace.
Woman injured in crash
STAMFORD —An accident on Main Street on Saturday sent one woman to the hospital with neck injuries, state police at Margaretville said.
