A ’decent’ snowstorm predicted
A winter storm warning has been issued for the Oneonta area in advance of a strong weather system expected to strike the Northeast today and Tuesday.
Benefits of OM competition go beyond winning
ONEONTA - There isn’t any financial gain for students who won a prize at the Odyssey of the Mind competition Saturday, but they benefited in other ways.
Sidney airport gets nearly $700,000 for renovations
The Sidney airport got a boost last week with the announcement of a federal grant.
The Thomas Z. Fagan Municipal Airport will receive $693,500 through the U.S. Department of Transportation, Rep. John E. Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, said in a news release.
Odyssey of the Mind results
ONEONTA - The first place teams from each division will attend the state competition at Binghamton University on March 19.
Young composers’ work to be performed
ONEONTA - Melodies by four local pupils will be performed at Hartwick College during a concert Sunday featuring works by child composers.
February 26, 2005
Area critics predict Swank, Foxx will win
Actor Jamie Foxx and actress Hilary Swank will be Oscar-winners in the 77th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, local film critics said.
Hunt can’t withdraw guilty plea
DELHI - Gregory A. Hunt, one of the defendants in the Timothy Cutting case, was not allowed to withdraw his guilty plea in Delaware County Court on Friday.
Show will be ’trip down memory lane’
History is having a heyday in Middletown, where a town historian has just been appointed and a new society is celebrating the area’s heritage, said Diane Galusha, president of Middletown’s Historical Society.
Students prepare for Odyssey contest
Bainbridge-Guilford Central School sixth-grader Caiti Anderson said she was "really excited and a little nervous.&#
Barrel burners to get letters
Otsego County’s Solid Waste Committee has approved a round of initiatives to encourage people not to use burn barrels, but will not seek a local law to ban the practice.
Franklin superintendent chosen for Oneonta job
ONEONTA - The position of Oneonta City School District superintendent, effective July 1, has been offered to Franklin Superintendent Michael Shea.
Marine recalls battles in Iraq
When Reggie Ross Jr. joined the Marines a year and a half ago, he had a pretty good idea he was going to fight in Iraq.
Inn renovation uncovers paintings
Rustic murals, perhaps a half-century old, have been uncovered at the Elm Inn in Milford, which is undergoing renovations this month.
Plans for park in Walton presented to committee
WALTON - The development of a park along the West Branch of the Delaware River in Walton is under consideration, and two preliminary drawings have been presented to the Riverside Park Steering Committee, said Joan Hall, committee member.
A passenger was supposed to be on plane that crashed
A passenger was supposed to be on board a plane that crashed and killed the pilot in Norwich earlier this month, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Otsego to upgrade E911 system
Several New York counties are slated to receive state funds this spring to upgrade equipment used to answer emergency calls from cellular telephones.
State names Dairy Princess
Got milk? A Chenango County woman will be looking to make sure the answer is "yes" as she travels around the state in her newly won post.
NiMo plans outage on Sat.
A power outage is scheduled Saturday morning for Niagara-Mohawk customers in the towns of Decatur, Worcester and Maryland, company officials said.
Ex-Meredith resident bequeaths funds to seven groups
An Oneonta man’s love of local history and his hometown of Meredith resulted in several bequests to Delaware County organizations, said Bernice Telian, Meredith town historian.
Delaware Relay for Life seeks teams for event
DELHI - Planning for the 2005 American Cancer Society’s Delaware County Relay for Life has begun, and this year’s goal is $150,000, said Jody O’Connell, co-chairwoman of the event.
Police warn against scams
If your phone rings and someone offers you free government grant money, it’s a scam, so hang up, said Karl Vagts, Delaware County sheriff’s department senior investigator.
Davenport school to hold debate contest
Dozens of area high school students are planning to show off their oratorical skills Saturday at Charlotte Valley Central School in Davenport and have fun doing it.
Phone survey to inquire about eating, exercise
Cornell researchers on Friday will begin a telephone survey in the Stamford/Hobart area to learn how women feel about the food and physical activity choices in the community, said Jeanne Darling, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County.
Social Services sets up at The Meadows
Otsego County’s Department of Social Services continued its move Tuesday from the Greystone Building south of Cooperstown to The Meadows.
Chamber announces citizen, business awards
Jane Forbes Clark and The Neptune Diner/BK Associates are winners of the Otsego County Chamber’s annual citizen and business awards, the chamber said Tuesday.
Author, political analyst to speak at SUCO
Dr. Michael Parenti, author and political analyst, will give a presentation titled "U.S. Empire vs. Democracy" at the State University College at Oneonta at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10.
Walton plans parade to welcome home soldiers
A year ago on Feb. 24, friends, family and supporters lined the streets of Walton to send off the National Guard 204th Engineer Battalion Company A being deployed to Iraq. Now, a parade is being planned to welcome the soldiers home.
Auxiliary at Bassett gets advocacy award
The auxiliary at Bassett Hospital of Schoharie County in Cobleskill was one of many auxiliaries in the state recently recognized by a state health-care group.
Test: Two CV homes have lead in water
A regular test of water in Cherry Valley has revealed that some homes have problems with lead, according to a letter from the village.
Teen charged with sexual abuse
COBLESKILL - A Cobleskill teen was charged Thursday with sexually abusing two 11-year-old boys, Cobleskill police said.
Reporter joins The Daily Star
ONEONTA - A reporter who spent three years writing for a newspaper in the North Country has joined The Daily Star to cover Oneonta government and local police.
History can change presidents’ reputations
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, long ranked as the greatest of U.S. presidents, are struggling to withstand some revelations about their views and personal lives, some local history teachers said.
Funeral homes try to help kids be at ease
For a small child, death and funeral homes can be frightening things.
"It’s dark and it’s different and it’s more foreign for kids," said Bill Hayes, a licensed clinical social worker at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown.
The Walton Town Board has approved a new developer to construct a building to house a Dollar General store, Walton Supervisor John Meredith said.
Seancony LP, a developer from Pennsylvania, was hired to take over the project, Meredith said.
Professor to discuss tsunami
ONEONTA - Neil DeVotta, assistant professor of political science at Hartwick College, will speak Thursday night on the impact of the tsunami on his native Sri Lanka.
Man charged with giving false address
Delaware County deputies arrested a Long Island man Tuesday, accusing him of giving a false county address on a pistol permit application.
Justice files suit against board
Davenport Justice Britt Kelch promised to protest his $500 salary when he was sworn into office Dec. 15, and on Feb. 11 he filed suit against the Davenport Town Board.
Ex-Corning CEO to give ’Wick graduation address
Amory "Amo" Houghton, former chairman and chief executive officer of Corning Inc., will give the commencement address at Hartwick College, college officials announced Friday.
Center at Delhi Tech will receive $250,000
The Center of Excellence in Watershed Applications at the State University College of Technology at Delhi will receive $250,000 in federal funding, the SUNY chancellor announced Friday.
Pupils protest state exams
ONEONTA - For three days, Joe Ficano said, his son Ryan and another child, Sam Huntington, both 9, sat quietly at their desks at Center Street Elementary School in Oneonta.
Making do at Countryside
DELHI - Delaware County’s Countryside Care Center is a happy home for many of the residents, but employees at the nursing facility say keeping the aging center running smoothly isn’t always easy.
Compare all options for center, official says
DELHI - At the county board meeting Wednesday, Delaware County Social Services Commissioner William Moon offered a new perspective on whether the county should sell Countryside Care Center or build a new nursing home.
Schumer working to restore dairy cuts
Despite recent high milk prices, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he is leading the fight to restore a 5 percent cut in dairy prices included in President Bush’s recent budget proposal.
Delaware discovers nearly $8M
Nearly $8 million was found in a Delaware County account during a year-end examination of fund balances, county officials said Wednesday.
Film documents Richfield farm
"American Farm," a documentary about the evolution of the Ames farm in the town of Richfield, will have its premiere at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Fenimore Art Museum.
Church withdraws plan to run Java Island
ONEONTA - The Family Worship Center withdrew plans to move to the Java Island coffee shop after speakers at the Planning Commission meeting Wednesday night raised issues of a church using a prime retail site and competition from a nonprofit group.
Three arrested in meth-lab raid
Two men and a woman were arrested Wednesday after authorities found them making methamphetamine in the town of Exeter, a news release from the state police said.
Oneonta school board gets draft of budget
ONEONTA - The first draft of the 2005-06 budget for the Oneonta City School District was reviewed during Wednesday’s board of education meeting at the high school.
Concert by Mellencamp, Fogerty ’not a sure thing’
John Mellencamp, John Fogerty and their bands may perform at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown the night of Friday, Aug. 12, but no contracts had been signed as of Wednesday.
Shelter criticizes Unadilla animal control officer
A Unadilla animal control officer whose continued employment has been the source of debate at recent Unadilla Town Board meetings said Tuesday he plans on resigning for medical reasons.
Funds to help college’s aquaculture program
The New York Power Authority gave a $20,000 check to the State University College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill on Wednesday to expand the college’s aquaculture program.
Area News Briefs
ONEONTA - State police at Oneonta are still investigating allegations that a Wal-Mart employee falsified records while working there.
February 16, 2005
Filers can deduct sales or income tax this year
Those filing federal income tax returns this year have another option for itemized deductions, but an Internal Revenue Service spokesman said it may not be popular in New York.
Several changes made to tax laws in 2004
Besides the sales tax deduction option, there were multiple changes to the tax laws for 2004, several local accountants said Tuesday.
Scavenger hunt helps students enjoy the news
ONEONTA - Learning has more rewards than usual at Center Street Elementary in Oneonta. Since the fall, the school has awarded prizes to students who read their local daily newspaper.
Former SUCO student found guilty of assault
A former State University College at Oneonta student was found guilty of punching another SUCO student and breaking her nose in a downtown bar, city police said Tuesday.
Muller to apply for state funds to develop city
Aldermen authorized the mayor Tuesday to apply for a state grant to support planning for development in the rail yard and adjacent center-city areas.
Social Services workers begin move into The Meadows
Three months ago, residents and staff left The Meadows, which had been Otsego County’s nursing home for half a century, and moved to the county’s new nursing home, Otsego Manor.
Cobleskill Tech to build equestrian center
The SUNY Cobleskill Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the State University College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, plans to build an equestrian complex on land adjacent to the college.
Area news briefs
An Oneonta man was sentenced Monday in Otsego County Court to one to three years in prison for vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.
February 15, 2005
Police save man from Delhi fire
Two Delhi police officers pulled a man out of a smoke-filled apartment, probably saving his life, said Delhi Police Chief Robert Walsh.
Some concerned about Laurens group home
Some community members expressed concern Monday about a group home for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled individuals that could open in Laurens this spring.
Church proposes to use Java Island for services
ONEONTA - The Java Island storefront could be a place for coffee or prayer under plans to be presented to the Oneonta Planning Commission, a pastor said Monday.
Several towns in Delaware to get funding
Villages and towns in Delaware County will be getting more funding from the federal and state governments to repair damage caused by summer storms.
Organizer reminds participants in fund-raiser to wear layers
An organizer of the Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump is reminding jumpers and spectators to dress appropriately for the fund-raiser scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in Colliersville. Sign-in is 10 a.m. to noon, coordinator Brenda Waters said.
Early hunting questioned
ONEONTA - Many of the more than 350 people who turned out Saturday for a hearing on proposed changes to deer-hunting season were concerned about an overlapping of bowhunters and muzzleloaders.
Pro snow sculptors expected
Giant circus figures will rise in Cooperstown next weekend as professional snow sculptors arrive Saturday to conduct a snow sculpture workshop at Lake Front Park.
School building hearing March 1
Plans to reconfigure the Sidney Central School district will be examined at a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. March 1 in the Sidney High School auditorium.
Three charged in Stamford fight
Three people were arrested after Delaware County sheriff’s deputies were called to a fight in Stamford Friday night.
Proposal would cost area hospitals
ALBANY - Hospitals throughout the Mohawk Valley and Catskills would lose millions under health-care cuts and new taxes proposed by Gov. George Pataki, according to a study.
North Carolina band comes to Walton school
WALTON - Feet were tapping and hands were clapping when Molasses Creek launched into a lively tune Friday morning in the Walton Central School auditorium.
Student shares experience with fire
An Otego Elementary fifth-grader has used his family’s loss as an opportunity to educate his fellow students about fire safety.
Senior citizens to join teens at Walton dance
Senior high school students will mingle with senior citizens when the Walton Central School Student Council holds the annual Sweetheart Dance in conjunction with a Senior Citizens Prom from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Dunkin’ Donuts proposed for Main St.
An owner of Dunkin’ Donuts has submitted a proposal to the city to build a shop at the corner of Main and North Fifth streets, a development that would call for razing two buildings.
Errors report raises doubts
A report claiming New York does an inadequate job of tracking and reporting hospital performance does not reflect local hospitals’ experiences, administrators said.
IGA: Zoning plan could allow senior-citizen housing
ONEONTA - A proposed regulation on zoning could be applied to different sections of the city to permit housing developments for senior citizens, the chairwoman of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee said Thursday.
Letter-writer accused of criminal contempt
DELHI - A Walton man was arraigned on criminal contempt charges in Delaware County Court on Thursday for writing letters from prison, violating an order of protection.
Bush budget cuts would affect area
A variety of programs have had funding reduced or eliminated in President Bush’s 2006 budget proposal. Others could see less-than-expected increases as Bush looks to close this year’s nearly $500 billion deficit. Legislators said it will be several months before it is clear which proposals in the $2.5 trillion budget will be OK’d by Congress.
E-vote gets push locally
State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer wants New York legislators to enact voting reforms quickly.
Adoptees celebrate Chinese culture
Robin Wolf-Gould, 4, and Lia Solensten, 5, each recently had a haircut to prepare for the Chinese New Year, a celebration that started Wednesday and lasts for 15 days.
SUCO to mark Chinese holiday
About 250 people are expected at the Chinese New Year celebration at the State University College at Oneonta on Saturday night, a student organizer said Wednesday.
Delaware tourism collaboration is topic of meetings
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is holding four meetings throughout the county to develop cooperative marketing plans to help deal with the loss of tourism funding from the state, said Patty Cullen, tourism director.
Health groups blast N.Y. anti-smoking ads
ALBANY - Gov. George Pataki’s Health Department has done such a miserable job with its anti-smoking campaigns that it should get out of the business altogether, health advocates said Wednesday.
State lawmaker fears ’RoboCops’ on highways
ALBANY - Two high-level lawmakers are taking a dim view of the Pataki administration’s plan to install speed-detection equipment on state highways.
Area News Briefs
ONEONTA - City officials issued a reminder Wednesday that motorists cannot park on city streets if 2½ inches or more of snow has fallen.
February 9, 2005
Family moves on after explosion
WORCESTER- It’s been more than a year since a section of pipeline exploded in Harpersfield near the home of Gys and Cheryl Seacord.
1st black Army officer is subject of research
COOPERSTOWN - No one has written a book about Stephen Swails of Cooperstown, the first black man to be commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army.
Oneonta close to hiring superintendent
The replacement for retiring Oneonta City School Superintendent James Piscitelli could be announced in a week, an Oneonta school official said Tuesday.
Historic building to benefit from grant
Lasell Hall in Schoharie, a historic building that is home to the Schoharie Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, will receive energy efficiency work with help from a $20,000 grant, said state Sen. James L. Seward, R-Milford.
Some see lack of child-care providers in area
The closure of an Oneonta day-care center in December has contributed to the lack of day-care providers in the area, those involved with the business said.
Banquet at Elks Club to honor sportsman
A man who has been a fixture on Main Street in Oneonta for more than half a century will be honored with a banquet Saturday night.
Suspect in bank robbery pleads innocent
DELHI - One of the three men accused in a Nov. 24 armed robbery at the Franklin branch of the National Bank of Delaware County pleaded innocent in Delaware County Court on Jan. 24.
Balmy weather ties temperature record
Warm weather settled in the area Sunday, tying a record for the date in Oneonta and breaking the record in Binghamton, according to local weather observers.
Engineer wins regional recognition
A local man has been recognized as civil engineer of the year for local Region 9 by the New York State Association of Transportation Engineers.
State pushes casino plan for Catskills
ALBANY - Gov. George Pataki on Thursday proposed legislation to increase the number of authorized Indian-owned casinos in the Catskills from three to five, including new conditions to make the deal more acceptable to local leaders.
Activities to celebrate black history
ONEONTA - A play about heroes, a memorial march and a discussion of hate speech are among Black History Month activities starting Tuesday at the State University College at Oneonta.
Area News Briefs
ROXBURY - A Bovina snowmobiler has been charged with doing damage to trails at Ski Plattekill, according to state police at Margaretville.
February 5, 2005
2 group homes to open on upper West St.
Two group homes for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled adults are likely to open on upper West Street in Oneonta and Laurens this spring.
Center in Norwich is for intensive care
The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities serves about 135,000 people. The overwhelming majority do not present a danger to others.
Stargazers welcome at SUCO program
ONEONTA - Participants in an upcoming astronomy program will be able to gaze at a cloudless night sky, see pinpoints of light and then look through a telescope at a celestial body invisible to the naked eye.
Resignation may lead to changes at department
Otsego County’s Planning Department may undergo some changes in the wake of Planning Director Diane Carlton’s resignation, which will be effective March 31.
Otsego board to award $25K to non profits
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Otsego County Board of Representatives voted to award $25,000 to nonprofit groups for 2005. The money will come from the county’s 2 percent occupancy tax, or bed tax, and is meant to increase tourism this year.
Rescuers pull man from riverbank
City emergency crews rescued a 71-year-old man from a Susquehanna River bank on Southside Oneonta at about 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, a fire department official said.
County Democrats endorse Dean for chairman
The Otsego County Democratic Committee has unanimously endorsed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s candidacy to be chairman of the Democratic Party.
Scholarship to benefit Worcester students
Education has been a mainstay in the lives of Henry F. and Diane Marie Ciminelli Geerken, cruise boat owners and college administrators.
Area United Way raises $402,667 to set record
The United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties raised a record $402,667 during the 2004 campaign but was short of its goal, officials announced this week.
Andes woman arrested twice for blocking traffic
ANDES - Delaware County sheriff’s deputies arrested an Andes woman two days in a row for similar charges, but she said she’s acting for a good cause.
Hancock man to see psychiatrist
The man accused of creating a bomb scare at the Hancock Post Office on Sunday will undergo a psychiatric examination before his felony hearing continues.
Lawmakers could reject TAP plan
Despite a court ruling limiting the Legislature’s budget authority, lawmakers still have the power to reject the governor’s plan to revamp a college financial-aid program, a high-level Pataki administration official said.
County committee to discuss problems at Otsego Manor
COOPERSTOWN - Problems related to the construction of Otsego Manor will be discussed when the county’s Public Works Committee meets Feb. 15, committee Chairman Donald Lindberg, R-Worcester, said Wednesday.
Union president: SUNY might have to cut jobs if it doesn’t get $85M
ALBANY - New York’s state-run colleges could be forced to cut 1,700 faculty jobs if the university system doesn’t get $85 million promised in the governor’s budget, the head of the professors’ union said Tuesday.
Brownies spiked with laxatives lead to 2 arrests
A bad batch of brownies has led to assault charges against two certified nursing assistants, ex-employees of The Meadows, Otsego County’s former nursing home.
Driver faces prison
COOPERSTOWN - An Oneonta man who has pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated is slated to be sentenced Monday to 1 to 3 years in state prison, said John Muehl, Otsego County district attorney.
Job fair called a success
ONEONTA - About 400 visitors checked out work opportunities at a job fair Tuesday featuring 55 employers, organizers said.
Wood stove blamed for house fire
A wood stove was the source of a Monday-night fire at the Stahl home on Taylor Road in Butternuts, the Gilbertsville fire chief said Tuesday.
Man pleads innocent to theft
An indictment charging a Richfield Springs man with fourth-degree grand larceny and petit larceny was handed up Monday in Otsego County Court before Judge Michael Coccoma. Louis A. Leddick Jr., 20, was charged with stealing a wallet and a credit or debit card Oct. 29, according to court records.
Area News Briefs
ONEONTA - An Oneonta man was arrested in Utica for a probation violation, according to Otsego County sheriff’s deputies.
Police holding Hancock man without bail
When law enforcement agencies evacuated a one-block area around the Hancock Post Office during a terrorism scare Sunday, one woman didn’t want to move.
Student athletes honored for service
A relief effort by student athletes at the State University College at Oneonta has been recognized by a national organization.
3 students arrested after fight
ONEONTA - Three college students were arrested after a fight involving 15 to 20 people on Market Street at about 1:15 a.m. Friday, shortly after closing time, city police said Monday.
Fire leaves family homeless
GILBERTSVILLE - A fire in Butternuts on Monday night destroyed a home and left a family of four homeless.
