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Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, January 16, 2025
Volume 17, No. 12
Newsstand Price $1
Board Meeting Ends with Uproar, Call to Sheriff’s Department By DARLA M. YOUNGS
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HARTWICK he Hartwick Town Board meeting on Monday, January 13 began well enough, but ended on a sour note. The public comment period at the close of the 3-1/2 hour session degraded to such a point that town officials felt it necessary to call in local law enforcement. There continued to be a clear divide between councilmembers Chris Briggs, Bryan LoRusso, Bruce Markusen and Tom Murphy as they bickered frequently across the table, but despite this they were able to come to a consensus regarding the hiring of a town attorney. Former town attorney William C. Green resigned from his position in November, and members of the board had been at loggerheads since as to a replacement. Following much discussion and positive feedback from Town of Hartwick Planning Board Chair Greg Horth, the vote to contract with Syracusebased Hancock Estabrook LLP was unanimous. The Planning Board works with Hancock Estabrook on a regular basis with good results, according to Horth. “I like the depth of this company,” said Briggs, who put Hancock Estabrook forth for consideration. Briggs said during the discussion that Hancock Estabrook represents 29 towns with more than 30 attorneys, and has garnered “a fair amount of accolades.” Councilmembers were not on the same page, however, regarding the appointment of an interim supervisor to replace former Town Supervisor Robert O’Brien, who moved away just as attorney Green was resigning. LoRusso and Murphy voted “aye” for candidate Connie Haney, co-owner of Cooperstown Bat Company, but Briggs and Markusen abstained, seeking more information. Briggs and Markusen championed the appointment Continued on page 7 INSIDE ► hUNT: iNSUFFICIENT PARKING DETRIMENTAL TO BUSINESSES, page 2 ► RENOWNED CIVIL RIGHTS FIGURE TO SPEAK AT SUNY ONEONTA, page 3 ► eliminate the negative and hope will follow, page 4 ► making of maple syrup can be beneficial to bird population, page 5 ► parrillo pivots from banners to books to honor vets, page 6 ► calendar, page 10 Follow Breaking News On
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Photo courtesy of Otsego County
Otsego County firefighters who volunteered to help contain the Jennings Creek wildfires in Orange County in November were honored at the January 2 Otsego County Board meeting. Representing those departments deployed were, front row: Joe Hurlburt Sr., Otego; Emergency Services Manager/Fire Coordinator Victor F. C. Jones, who coordinated deployment; Gary Ray I, West Edmeston; Tyler Post, Unadilla; and Brandon Card, Morris. Back row: Alexander Hilton, Unadilla; Assistant Coordinator Damon West and Deputy Fire Coordinator Jeremy Hilton, both of Emergency Services; Mike Hoyt, West Laurens; David Robinson, Gilbertsville, Zeithan Dunham, Morris, Mark Elderkin, Richfield Springs; Johnathan Ashe, Milford; and Colby Hull, Morris.
County Board Reelects Frazier, Kennedy Staff and Firefighters Honored for Service By MONICA CALZOLARI OTSEGO COUNTY dwin Frazier Jr. and Margaret Kennedy were nominated and unanimously reelected by the Board of Representatives as chair and vice chair, respectively, at the monthly Otsego County Board of Representatives meeting on January 2.
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Frazier, who lives in Unadilla and represents District 1, said, “I will continue to work diligently to keep our ideas, projects and goals moving forward. As always, please feel free to bring any criticisms or concerns on improving our great county to me. Please let’s address them in person.” Frazier said that being reelected was validation that he is going in the right direction based on his one year of service as chair. He thanked board members for their vote of confidence in his leadership.
Meg Kennedy was also nominated and elected as temporary chair and re-elected as vice chair. Four county employees were recognized as outstanding employees. Frazier announced that all employees and department chairs are invited to nominate individuals every six months who exhibit a high degree of commitment to outstanding service, a high level of productivity, and demonstrate a high degree of initiative and effective relationships with others. Continued on page 9
Abandoned Hornet Nest an Opportunity for Learning By SARAH ROBERTS
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COOPERSTOWN n December 13, Cooperstown resident Ellen Pope made an unusual offer on the “Celebrate Cooperstown” Facebook page, seeking a new home for a large bald-faced hornet’s nest that had been growing in her garage for months. “I honestly didn’t notice it until maybe July, and by then it was too big to knock down Photo provided safely. Since it was on the oppo- Thanks to a Facebook post by Cooperstown resident Ellen Pope and an site side of the door from the abandoned nest (right), kids at Mountaintop Family Childcare recently engarage door opener button, and joyed learning about bald-faced hornets and other insects. Once the hornets were gone the movement of the door didn’t said. “We’d collide occasionseem to agitate them that much, ally, but they just went on their and the nest could be removed without risk of harm to human I decided to let them be,” Pope way. I never got stung.”
or insect, Pope decided to offer the nest to any teacher or naturalist who would like to use the nest for educational purposes. “I was really impressed with the structure of the hive,” Pope said, “and thought it could be a great learning tool for a science teacher.” And it would prove to be just that. Mountaintop Family Childcare in Worcester jumped at the opportunity to use the nest. “This morning, we explored and investigated all about wasps!” Mountaintop Family Childcare said in a Facebook post on December 20, which included photos of the young wildlife explorers. In images Continued on page 6
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
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