Ion DIvIS S m e ySt Ion S t a m Infor Ware
th anniversary
20
08 - 2023
LOCALS: PEOPLE & BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS/page A9
I r andw.isdtech.n e t u p Com 90 • ww
VISIT www.
Volume 15, No. 13
AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Singh Family Readies New Retail Property Former Friendly’s Being Converted to Apple Express By TARA BARNWELL
By CASPAR EWIG
T
B
Photo by Ted Mebust
Jeff Katz, president of Friends of Doubleday, gives Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh a check for $10,000.00 to aid Doubleday Field renovations.
Doubleday Field Donation Shows Sincere Preservation Dedication By TED MEBUST
T
COOPERSTOWN he Friends of Doubleday, a 501c(3) nonprofit fundraising organization based in Cooperstown, has donated $10,000.00 to the Village of Cooperstown to bolster renovation costs of Doubleday Field’s new third-baseline building, which will be named the Bud Fowler Pavilion. “We’re very thankful for the Friends of Doubleday and excited to be nearing the end of the road on this project,” said Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh, who accepted the donation on behalf of the village at a meeting of the Doubleday INSIDE Committee on January 9. ► oneonta’s american legion The FOD originally organized to help the post 259 opens Veterans village with renovation costs and smaller Museum page A2 projects to maintain the historic site by ► fewer birds counted in 2022, according to DelawareOtsego Audubon Christmas Bird Count page A3 ► Mostly dead Hamlin in a mostly perfect storm, page A4 ► letters, letters and more letters to the editor pages A4 and A6 ► nonprofits gather to network page A5 Follow Breaking News On
AllOTSEGO.com
COMPLIMENTARY
Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, January 12, 2023
Bassett Housing Project Discussed COOPERSTOWN assett Hospital’s proposal to build housing for its employees on Averill Road, on property owned by the Templeton Foundation, was the subject of a public hearing before Cooperstown’s Board of Trustees on January 5. That hearing was in conjunction with the board voting on whether a special permit to allow the construction should be granted and, if granted, under what conditions or limitations. The hearing had attracted interest and was well attended. At the outset, Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh set the ground rules for the hearing. After the Bassett representatives explained the project, each participant was allowed five minutes to comment. “It’s totally your opportunity to speak and be heard, and that will take as long as we need. If you want to stay for two hours, we will stay Continued on page 2
ONEONTA
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
om ranS CtIon e ices t Prot T Serv e
32-70 607-4
Home
HOMETOWN
15
nta eo
wn on o t
selling merchandise, tours, art prints, autographed photos of Hall of Famers, and events, still offered today. Their previous projects include restoring the roof of the ballpark’s grandstand, the paver project, in which the names of people and organizations that donated to restore the field were inscribed on bricks placed just outside the grandstand, and the dedication of Bud Fowler Way, honoring the first known Black professional baseball player. In 2018, Tillapaugh inherited and has since continued the Doubleday Field renovation project from former Mayor Jeff Katz, who, she said, had already headed great efforts in designing plans and organizing funds with the Village’s Doubleday Committee and Friends of Doubleday. Over $5 million was raised, thanks to the help of Continued on page 3
ONEONTA he Singh family of Milford owns a number of properties in Otsego County, their latest acquisition being the former Friendly’s restaurant in Oneonta. “The location of the old Friendly’s is great. The parking is great, as well,” said Harry Singh, who will be running Apple Express, a new convenience store currently under construction at 377 Main Street. “Sure, there are a lot of convenience stores and gas stations in Oneonta. But my family has a reputation of helping people in our community. We have become known for our customer service,” Harry said. “Just like our little gas station on Route 7 in Oneonta—we grew that
location from a small gas station to a large convenience store and gas station.” “What sets us apart is that we treat people right. People notice that,” he continued. “People know us and the things we do in Milford, but they don’t really know us in Oneonta…yet. It’s a different market from Milford. We treat people with respect.” The Singh family is very involved wherever they are. Harry’s brother, Paul, runs the Apple Food and Grocery and Apple Inn and Suites in Milford. His father, Gurdev, oversees the Pit Stop gas station and convenience store in Index. “We are a family that is very involved. We are not corporate owned. I will always be at the store; I am hands-on. It makes us Continued on page 6
LEAF Receives ARC Grant Funds To Support Workplace Wellbeing, Recovery-to-Work Efforts
L
ONEONTA EAF, the Leatherstocking Education on Alcoholism/ Addictions Foundation, has been awarded $378,704.00 toward efforts associated with a new substance use disorder recovery and workforce development initiative. The funds, from the Appalachian Regional Commission, will support the North4 INSPIRE program, providing those
in recovery with education, workforce training and wraparound services. The INSPIRE Initiative Implementation grant from ARC will improve individuals’ chances for successful employment and sustained recovery. In addition, the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors has allocated American Recovery Plan Act funds for $75,000.00 over three years to support the project. LEAF, based
in Otsego County, will be joined by partners in Chenango, Delaware and Schoharie counties. “The substance use disorder crisis isn’t solely a health and family issue— it’s also a workforce development issue, and thus a community issue. At ARC, we’re laser-focused on creating a comprehensive network of supports to help individuals recovering Continued on page 3
Photo by Tara Barnwell
Harry Singh is converting the former Friendly’s restaurant to a convenience store. The Singh family also owns Apple Food and Grocery and Apple Inn and Suites in Milford and the Pit Stop in Index.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD