The Applebee’s in Oneonta’s Southside Mall may not see any big changes, even as its parent company is being sold.

"It may not mean anything for them," mall general manager Jessica Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski said she hadn’t heard any details as to what would be happening with the Southside Applebee’s.

IHOP and Applebee’s corporations announced Monday the pancake chain would be buying Applebee’s. The deal is worth about $2.1 billion, according to a news release from IHOP.

The release said the corporation will be selling most of the company-owned stores to franchisees, and the move will lower "general and administrative" costs.

Dombrowski said the Oneonta Applebee’s is already a franchise store and was not owned by the corporation.

IHOP’s closest locations to Oneonta are in Vestal, New Hartford and Albany. Applebee’s has other locations in Herkimer, Binghamton and Vestal.

The sale is expected to close by the end of the year, the IHOP release said.

OFO adds collection sites for cell phones

Opportunities For Otsego is still collecting unwanted cell phones for its Violence Intervention Program.

People who have phones they don’t want can drop them off at various places in and around Oneonta, according to a news release from OFO late last month.

New locations for phone drop-offs are at NBT Bank on Wall Street and Southside, Tina Marie’s Salon on Main Street, Foxcare Dental Associates and Oneonta Family Practice in the FoxCare Center, the Golden Guernsey on Main Street, the Peter MacPherson office on Oneonta’s Southside and Integrated Chiropractic at 454 Main St.

The phones are recycled or turned into 911 phones for domestic-violence victims.

State offers grants for food industry

State funding is available for individuals, businesses and groups in the area that want to work with agriculture and food development, according to a news release from the Otsego County Economic Development Office.

Money is available through the 2007 Food and Agriculture Industry Development Grant Program, the release said.

"The grant program invites proposals that will develop and implement innovative and low-risk approaches to the research, development, production, processing and distribution of agricultural products and foods that capitalize on the state’s unique resources and strategic location near significant markets," the release said.

Individuals, businesses, public and private agencies, organizations, local government and educational groups can apply.

Applications are available at www.agmkt.state.ny.us. They are due by 4:30 p.m. Aug. 28.

People who have questions about the applications should contact Carolyn Lewis at 432-8871 or Meg McCabe at the Department of Agriculture and Markets at meg.mccabe@agmkt.state.ny.us.

Comments sought on NYSEG proposal

The state Public Service Commission is accepting comments about a proposal from New York State Electric & Gas Corp.

The proposal would make NYSEG’s fixed-price option the default for customers who don’t buy their electricity from an energy services company instead of NYSEG.

Comments should be submitted or postmarked by July 27. They can be mailed to Jaclyn Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223. People can also file comments at www.dps.state.ny.us or call (800) 335-2120.

A news release said written comments should reference "Case 07-E-0479-NYSEG-Fixed Supply Service."

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To suggest a business story, announce a new business or changes to an existing one, e-mail aashbridge@thedailystar.com or call Amy L. Ashbridge at 432-1000, ext. 213 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 213.