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Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, October 31, 2024
Volume 17, No. 1
Newsstand Price $1
Coop Board of Trustees: ‘No’ to Proposed Sign Law Amendment By DARLA M. YOUNGS
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COOPERSTOWN ollowing numerous meetings and a public hearing, the Cooperstown Board of Trustees voted 6-1 on the evening of Monday, October 28 against a proposed amendment to the village’s existing sign law. If approved, the sign law would have been changed to allow banners to be placed on New York State Electric and Gas utility poles on portions of four streets in the Village of Cooperstown— Lake Street, Pine Boulevard, Chestnut Street and Glen Avenue. The impetus for the proposed change—Local Law 11 of 2024, Sign Law Amendment—was a request from Toddsville resident and Cooperstown Central School graduate Joanie Parrillo to hang “Hometown Heroes” banners, honoring local veterans, in the village. The banners can be seen in communities throughout Otsego County and New York State, and have become a popular way of honoring service of individual veterans, but the village’s current sign law would prohibit hanging of such banners on public property. Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh was the lone vote in favor of amending the law. Tillapaugh was the first village representative to speak when discussion of the sign law amendment officially opened, following a public comment period during which no members of the dozen or so audience members took the floor. Though attendance was sparse, interest was not. It was announced that Helmut Michelitsch, owner of Metro Cleaners, had hand-delivered more than 60 letters in support of the sign law
amendment and the Hometown Heroes banner program prior to the meeting, in conjunction with Cooperstown VFW Post 7128. Three other letters and one e-mail—evenly split between support for and opposition to the law change—were submitted to the record for consideration by village trustees. In her statement, Tillapaugh dispelled what she deemed to be misconceptions regarding the implications of the sign law change, including concerns about distracted driving and other safety issues, as well as possible loss of control over the program by the village. She also pointed out that, while there are veteran monuments located in the village, village officials cannot take credit for those. Tillapaugh’s full statement can be found on page 12. Recalling Cooperstown area military personnel who lost their lives in service of the nation—Private First Class Robert Atwell, Sergeant John Winslow and Marine Sergeant Kevin Coulman— Tillapaugh said, “A face is so important… I realize that I am most likely the lone vote for this change to our sign law. I am also the only one sitting here who knew those individuals and will remember their faces. Would I have donated money for banners for Bobbie, Michael and Kevin, so they could be remembered in their hometown? Absolutely. It would be the least I could do.” Deputy Mayor Cindy Falk had the floor next, thanking everyone who had spoken on the topic in the spirit of participatory government and thanking the veterans in attendance for their service. “I’ve thought a lot about what Continued on page 13
Photo provided
A Happy Hartwick Hallowe’en HARTWICK—More than 250 families visited the Hartwick Halloween Husky Trail on Saturday, October 26. Pictured above, from left, are Jacob Mathewson, Amanda Mathewson, Jennifer Keator, Andrea Vazquez and Michael Zupo. Halloween, on Thursday this year, is expected to be one of the warmest on record.
County Ballots Repleat With Unexpired Terms, Empty Seats By DARLA M. YOUNGS
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OTSEGO COUNTY he Otsego County ballot for the November 5 General Election, in addition to deciding who the next U.S. president and vice president will be, includes seven races in which a candidate is running unopposed, eight positions with no candidates, and 12 unexpired terms to be filled. Voters
will also be asked to vote for or against “Proposal Number One: Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment.” Turn to page 9 for the full proposal text. As of press time on Tuesday, October 29, the presidential race between current Vice President Kamala Harris/ Tim Walz (DEM, WOR) and former President Donald Trump/JD Vance (REP, CON) is too close to call. Continued on page 13
INSIDE
OLT Project Underway
► singh seeks to build awareness, page 3
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► reconciliation: can we do it? page 4 ► busy season for otsego chamber, page 5 ► candidates lay forth their views, pages 6, 7, 9 ► bolts and volts: energy explained, page 10 ► hero banners: point/ counterpoint, page 12 ► so how’s the early voting going? page 13 ► star watch, page 14 Follow Breaking News On Photo by WilliamJayMiller.com
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COOPERSTOWN ite work is progressing at the Brookwood Point Conservation Area on Otsego Lake (at left), where Otsego Land Trust is installing a new walking trail and paddling launch on the north side of the property. According to OLT officials, the improvements will enhance public access and enjoyment of the 22-acre property and provide safer and easier access for people of all ages and abilities to canoe, kayak or row on the lake. The project is supported by private donations and by a matching grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program with the Land Trust Alliance. Delta Engineers and Architects of Endicott designed the improvements with a raised boardwalk to protect the wetlands along the lake. Williams Excavating and Electric of Schenevus is the primary contractor. The work will be completed this fall with a formal dedication in the spring of 2025, according to OLT Executive Director Gregory Farmer.
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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