A persistent rumor about Starbucks coming to Oneonta may be just that _ a rumor.

"At this time, I don’t have any information about a store coming to the area, so I can’t confirm it," said Emily Murray, a spokeswoman for Starbucks.

The Starbucks rumor has been floating around Oneonta for several years.

It has perked up again with the news that a Bed, Bath & Beyond has been proposed for the Southside Mall in Oneonta.

A site plan for the expansion to the mall also called for a 7,500 square-foot expansion for "future smaller retail that usually follow (Bed, Bath & Beyond)."

There are two Starbucks coffeehouses in the Binghamton area, two in Ithaca and several in the Albany area.

Local man named to Freddie Mac board

A Norwich man has been named to the Freddie Mac Community Lender Advisory Board, according to a news release from NBT Bank.

Greg May, a senior vice president at NBT Bank, was recently named to the board, the bank announced Tuesday.

The release said the board has 30 members from across the United States.

May joined NBT in 2004, the release said, but has more than 35 years of banking experience. The release said May is director of the Central New York Mortgage Bankers Association and board chairman of the Chenango United Way.

Oneonta store to take part

in `Free Comic Book Day’

An Oneonta store is participating in "Free Comic Book Day" next week, said its owner.

Brian Lockwood, of Other Worlds, said people can come by to the store May 5 and get free items. Lockwood said the event is designed to get people more interested in comic books.

"The comics run the gamut of all ages," Lockwood said Tuesday. Available comics go from those geared toward children to those for teenagers and adults.

The shop is in the Clinton Plaza and is open between noon and 8 p.m.

Claims checks uncashed

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is looking for recipients in the area who haven’t cashed checks from the insurance company.

According to a news release from Excellus, there are more than 52 recipients in Otsego County with checks; that list includes A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital and Price Chopper. There are also about 50 people or providers in Delaware County with unclaimed money.

The checks were issued in 2003, according to the release.

The release said the money will be turned over to the state comptroller’s office if people don’t claim it by the end of August.

"This is money that was paid for claims or refunded premiums," Cynthia C. Hummel, regional president for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, said in a prepared statement. "It rightfully belongs to our members or providers and we want to make sure they have one more chance to claim it before it goes to the state."

People can look for their names at www.excellusbcbs.com. They can search by last name or by county.

Listings have also been running for Otsego and Delaware counties in The Daily Star’s legal notices, the release said.

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