“The Wall The Heals” will be set up in Neahwa Park in Oneonta over the Memorial Day Weekend, local organizer for the event; Gene Schmidt said that there is still a need for a few more volunteers, as preparations are already underway:

(Gene Schmidt 5-17-17)

Schmidt said that the Wall would be brought through area towns on May 25th, along State Route 7 from Harpursville to Oneonta; the wall will be in Neahwa Park through the late afternoon hours of Memorial Day.

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The City of Oneonta has hired George Korthauer as the new City Manager. Korthauer served as a city manager in Michigan, he beat out about 90 applicants for the Oneonta City Manager’s position.

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Governor Cuomo today ordered a comprehensive review of compliance under the 2015 “Enough Is Enough” law at all higher-education institutions across the state. The statewide inspection will ensure that all colleges and universities are fulfilling their obligations under the law to protect students from sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, and are taking every measure to properly investigate allegations of sexual assault on campus.   The Governor has directed the review be completed for all schools by the beginning of the fall semester.

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Empire State Development failed to meet more than half of the reporting requirements for tax credit and job creation programs, according to an audit released by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Auditors found 27 of 57 of general outcome reports, or 47 percent, were not finished, 17 programs requiring independently prepared evaluations were not evaluated; and 93 of 152 program-specific reports, or 61 percent, were not completed. The full report is available at osc.state.ny.us/audits.

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State Senate Democrats want to add an Equal Rights amendment to the state constitution.   The proposal would add language prohibiting discrimination based on gender, disability, sexual orientation or identity, the 1938 bill only prohibited discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion. Voters would decide whether to approve the amendment if lawmakers agree to put it on the November ballot.

All area school districts had successful budget votes yesterday, many by a wide margin. Locally, the Franklin School district required a Super Majority Voter Approval; their tax levy increase was slightly above the state cap.
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4 people were arrested on drug charges following the execution of a ‘no knock’ warrant on North Broad Street in Norwich Tuesday. Arrested were 19-year-old Chase Webb of Norwich, 37-year-old Steven Peterson of New York City, 30-year-old Sebastian Catanzaro of Norwich and 28-year-old Christina Banks of Norwich. Webb is accused of selling heroin; Peterson is accused of possessing cocaine and crack with the intent to sell. Catanzaro and Banks are accused of maintaining a place for drug sales. All 4 were arraigned; Webb was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility pending future court action.
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The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Annual Awards Gala at the Castle on the Delaware, in Walton today from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. The Village of Sidney is recieving recognition as the Business Advocate of the Year, according to Delaware County Chamber President Ray Pucci:

(Ray Pucci 5-17-17)

Other award recipients are: Businesses of the Year – Friesland-Campina DOMO, Saputo Dairy Foods; the new Business of the Year is Union Grove Distillery; Tourism Award goes to Wayside Cidery and Tap Room.
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The Delaware National Bank of Delhi opened their new Sidney Loan office location on May 8th, at 276 State Highway 7, this morning they celebrated with a Grand Opening & ribbon Cutting this morning, spokesperson Dee Hillis explains:

(Dee Hillis 5-17-17)

The Delaware National Bank of Delhi is the 26th oldest bank in the Country, and the 3rd oldest bank in the State of New York.
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Construction on the Oneonta Transfer Station will begin today; it will remain open during construction. Construction on the Northern Transfer Station in Cooperstown will follow, that Transfer Station will be closed during construction.
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State health officials have published a guide to help New Yorkers to avoid Lyme disease this summer. The state department of health has published a complete guideline on their website, complete with what to do if you are bit by a tick, which are the most common ticks to spread Lyme disease, include pictures of those ticks. The Guideline is available at health.ny.gov
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State University of New York Empire State College will hold public information session about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at 44 HAWLEY STREET, BINGHAMTON today. The session will begin at 4:30 PM; more information is available at 721-8651.

(Crouch 2-9-16)

Crouch said that he expects to be involved in a Task Force that will hold hearings around the state, where similar situations have occurred, and concerns have been registered to lawmakers.
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State Police arrested 60-year-old Sandra Simmons of Port Crane for the felony of aggravated DWI with a B.A.C. result of .23% plus other traffic violations. The arrest occurred after a Broome county 911 report of an erratic driver in Johnson City. Simmons was arraigned & was remanded to the Broome County jail with no bail set at this time. Her next court date in the Village of Johnson City is pending.
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About 30 people volunteered at the Sidney Great American food store for the Salvation Army from Black Friday to Christmas Eve last year. Marie Cole of the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster team told WCDO how much money was raised:

(Marie Cole 2-9-16)

More information about the Salvation Army and their local efforts can be obtained by calling 563-2976.
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The Binghamton Mets announced the return of manager Pedro Lopez, pitching coach Glenn Abbott and hitting coach Luis Natera for the 2016 season. Lopez is the all-time winningest manager in Binghamton Mets history; Lopez led the B-Mets to a 2014 Eastern League Championship.
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Annual local sales tax collections declined in 30 of the 57 counties outside of New York City last year, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Total collections across the state grew by 3.6% in 2015, but the increase was nearly exclusively driven by New York City. Elsewhere, growth in local sales tax collections was a mere 0.7%. 10 counties experienced a decline of more than 3%, including Delaware County.
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State University of New York Empire State College will hold public information sessions about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at the State Office Building, Room 505, at 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton Today at 4:30 PM. More information is available at 721-8651.

(Stu Green 9-16-15)

Magic City Music Hall was forced to leave their former site on Harry L Drive in Johnson City in 2008 due to roofing concerns. WCDO will be giving away tickets for the first magic City Show with REO Speedwagon later this week. Tickets will be available for all shows starting this weekend.
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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced today his office approved 1,821 contracts valued at $1.9 billion and approved 1.7 million payments worth $8.5 billion in August. His office also rejected 191 contracts and transactions valued at $713 million and nearly 1,600 payments valued at $61.6 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties. Major Contracts Approved specifically in August were for the State Department of Agriculture and Markets for State Fair expenses, including $2 million paid out for 15 contracts to provide entertainers & $1.4 million for 3 contracts for ambulances, mobile restrooms and bedding/manure removal for livestock.
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Governor Cuomo announced today that recent investigations to protect exploited workers in New York State have led to nearly $3.3 million in back wages, damages and settlements for 800 workers. In the upstate counties, State Agriculture Labor Specialists assisted in recovering more than $9,000 in back wages for 23 farm workers who were underpaid. State investigators conducted more than 380 field visits and met with 300 agricultural businesses to offer hiring assistance and educate employers about labor law compliance and available resources. The agency has increased the number of field visits, reduced the number of violations and is protecting workers by helping more businesses comply with the law.
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The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced that $500,000 in grants are now available to help organizations to improve State parks, trails and historic sites. The grants are available for the program will be administered by State Parks and Parks & Trails New York. The program is designed to enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of State parks, trails and state historic sites; as well as promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails and greenways.

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State Police arrested 25 year old Ian Kosciusko of Worcester for sexual abuse. The arrest occurred after troopers were advised of an incident that occurred on September 11, at the Holiday Inn on State Route 23, in the Town of Oneonta. An investigation determined that an employee had unwanted sexual contact with an adult victim, Kosciusko was arraigned and was remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 property bond, An order of protection was issued by the court.
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Empire State College will hold public information session about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at its Binghamton location, State Office Building, Room 505, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton today at 4:30 PM. More information is available at 721-8651.

(Heastie 3-18-15)

The bills move onto the Senate for consideration, they have the support of Governor Cuomo.
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Today, village elections will be held across New York State. In tri-county area mayoral races, incumbents are running unopposed; there are trustee positions up for election in Sidney, Unadilla, Greene, Delhi, New Berlin & oxford.
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Sidney Chamber of Commerce will hold the next Business After Hours program today, with NBT Mang Insurance. The program will run from 5:30-7 pm at 13 Division Street in Sidney for Chamber Members.
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Today is Chenango County’s National Agriculture Day from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon At the Northeast Classic Car Museum at 24 Rexford Street in Norwich. Ag & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball and New York State FFA officer Kait Isaac from St. Johnsville in Montgomery County will be the guest speakers.
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Empire State College will hold public information session about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at its Binghamton location, State Office Building, Room 505, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton today. The session will be held at 4:30 PM, more information is available at 721-8651.

(Lopez 2-17-15)

The state budget is due April 1st; governor Cuomo said that he would not sign a budget unless stringent ethics reforms are passed, following the most recent arrest of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
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State Police arrested 35-year-old Michael Winner of Otego for the felony of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child with a reportable BAC result of .17% and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The arrest followed a vehicle stop on State Route 28 in Oneonta, Troopers accuse Winner of driving the vehicle while he was intoxicated, which became a felony as he had a 15 year old passenger with him as well as a prior conviction for DWI within the last ten years. Winner was arraigned in the Town of Oneonta Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail in lieu of a $5,000 cash bail.
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The water situation is back to normal for City & Town of Oneonta Residents, following last Friday’s water main breaks in the Upper west Street area. The pipes were repaired over the weekend, and the quality of the water was back to normal, all conservation restrictions were lifted over the weekend.
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Pathfinder Village will host 3 informational Open Houses for their New “Otsego Academy” which is a 2-year post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. The first event will be at the Village’s Kennedy Willis Center in Edmeston on Thursday, February 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Director of Admissions Kelly Myers explains:

(Kelly Myers 2-17-18)

Myers said that the program started last November with 4 students, subsequent events will be hosted at Pathfinder Village on Thursday, March 19th & Saturday, April 18th. Pre-registration is recommended at 965-8377, ext. 154 or visit otsegoacademy.org.
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Empire State College will hold public information session about its associate and bachelor’s degree programs at its Binghamton location, State Office Building, Room 505, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton next month. The session will be held on Wednesday, March 18th at 4:30 PM, more information is available at 721-8651.

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The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office 18 year old Dylan Whitman of Greene for 3rd degree Grand Larceny, for allegedly stealing property exceeding $3,000 from a Town of Smithville residence. Whitman was arraigned at the Town of Greene Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility. Whitman is to appear in the Town of Smithville Court at a later date.

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The Greater Afton Chamber of Commerce will hold their next meeting today at 7:00 PM in the Susquehanna Room of the Jack Bolster Community Center in Afton. John Graham from the Dispute Resolution Center of Chenango, Delaware and Otsego Counties will be speaking about the process and benefits of mediation in resolving business and personal disputes.

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Broadway in Binghamton announced that tickets are on sale today for “JEKYLL & HYDE” at the Forum Theater on Sunday, October 12^th at 3:00 & 7:30 PM. Tickets are on sale today at the Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. More information is available at 778-6626 or BroadwayInBinghamton.com.

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State Troopers arrested 36-year-old Donald Moshier of Whitney Point for Criminal Obstruction of Breathing.  The arrest followed an investigation by Troopers to a dispute at a residence on State Route 206 in Triangle.   Moshier alleged choked the victim during an argument, he was arraigned in the Town of Triangle Court and released, he faces court action on March 20, and an order of protection was filed against Moshier.

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State Police arrested 24-year-old Brett Gladstone of Walton for Felony DWI.  The arrest occurred after Police investigated a 1-car personal injury accident on State Route 206 & County Route 27 in the town of Tompkins.   Gladstone was intoxicated when he crashed his pick up truck into a tree off of the road; He refused to submit to a breath test.  Gladstone was arraigned in the Town of Tompkins Court and remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.

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Governor Cuomo announced that Brad Paisley will kick off the Grandstand concert series at the State Fair on Thursday, August 21^st .  Tickets will go on sale at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, March 29^th  

at the State Fair Box Office and through etix.com.

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