JOSEPH ZUPNIK – WCDO Radio News

WCDO NEWS TUESDAY 9-25-18

wcdonews — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:01:11 +0000

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced the release of his report, outlining municipalities in various stages of Fiscal Stress. Locally, the worst ranking was Broome County, which topped the list of “Susceptible to Fiscal Stress”, which was the 3rd level of fiscal Stress identified by DiNapoli’s office. The report can be located at osc.state.ny.us.
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The State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for August 2018. The State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% to 4.2% in August 2018. Locally, Chenango County had 3.8% unemployment, Delaware county registered 4.2% & Otsego County 3.9% in August.
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Today is National Voter Registration Day, which is celebrated on the second Tuesday of September, to remind those of legal voting age to make sure that they don’t miss registration deadlines. Those who want to vote in the November elections must register to vote in person at your County Board of Elections by October 12th, if you are registering by mail, the application must be postmarked by October 12th and must be received by the Board of Elections by October 17th. Address changes must be made by October 17th.
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Former Focus Otsego operators Joseph Zupnik and Daniel Herman pleaded guilty recently to endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, in connection with an incident in which a 94-year-old resident in the facility was left in a recliner for almost 2 straight days. Zupnik & Herman were ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, the maximum fine for that charge. Zupnik & Herman are no longer associated with the facility, which is under new ownership, and is doing business as “Centers Home Health Care”
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Governor Cuomo signed legislation to prohibit the leasing of companion animals in New York. The practice has resulted in balloon payments and predatory interest rates that lower income pet owners cannot afford, the pets were repossessed, traumatizing both owners and their pets. The amended law will prohibit the use of a dog or a cat as security for payments in contracts and financing agreements with pet dealers. The bills passed both houses of the legislature earlier this year.
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52nd Street: the Music of Billy Joel will be performed at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in Norwich this Saturday Night at 7:00 PM. Chenango Arts Council Executive Director Alecia O’Neill comments:

(Alecia O’Neill 9-25-18)

Tickets are available at chenangoarts.org at the Box Office or at 336-ARTS.
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Governor Cuomo signed legislation that adds acute pain management to the list of conditions for which medical marijuana can be recommended as an alternative to opioid use. The bill will also allow for substance use disorder treatment providers to recommend medical marijuana to help patients manage underlying pain that contributes to the abuse of substances such as opioids. In order to recommend medical marijuana for pain management, a registered practitioner must determine that the patient’s pain degrades health and functional capability, along with certain other requirements.
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The Chenango County Department of Health and Area Agency on Aging will be hosting their annual Senior Flu Vaccination Clinic for adults age 60 and over Today, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at the Norwich Family YMCA. The Chenango County Health Department will administer flu shots, and are available to discuss programs and services. The Norwich Police Department will be doing a drug take back where they will collect any old or unused prescription medications for proper disposal. more information call the Chenango County Health Department at 337-1660.
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There will be Red Cross Blood Drives Today in 2 locations. A Walton Blood Drive will be held from 2:00 through 6:00 PM at Pines Brook Church, & another at the The Hancock Central School from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Donors of all blood types are needed, appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

WCDO NEWS THURSDAY 9-13-18

wcdonews — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 18:42:36 +0000

Governor Cuomo today requested that the federal government grant a Major Disaster Declaration for 8 counties devastated by flash flooding during severe storms in August. A Declaration would result in financial assistance from the federal government for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure. The 8 county request includes Broome, Chenango, & Delaware Counties locallly, after damage estimates exceeded $36 million in infrastructure repair, debris removal and structural damage as a result of these storms. Widespread power outages impacted more than 1,500 homes and businesses in the area, responders rescued and evacuated more than 200 people from campgrounds.
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47 year old William Holtslander of Unadilla was found guilty by an Otsego County Court Jury on 13 counts of 1st degree sexual abuse. Holtslander was convicted after 4 hours of deliberation by the jury, for molesting a girl under the age of 11, 13 times; he faces sentencing on November 13th.
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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33 year old Scott Lord of Deposit Wednesday. Deputies stopped a vehicle on Upper Front Street in the Town of Dickinson for various violations, Lord is accused of lying about his name, possessing methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, and LSD, he was charged with 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, plus Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Impersonation, and numerous Traffic violations. Lord was processed & was released on appearance tickets for Town of Dickinson Court at a later date.
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The Otsego County Department of Health reported that a raccoon tested positive for rabies in the town of Milford today. The raccoon was killed by a dog that was not current with rabies vaccination, it will be placed on 6 month quarantine, and there was no known human exposure to the raccoon. This is the 2nd rabies-positive animal in
Otsego County this year, more information about rabies is available at 547-4230, or at otsegocounty.com.
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Otsego County Sheriff Department attempted to stop a vehicle Wednesday afternoon on State Route 23 in the town of Morris for speeding. The vehicle’s operator failed to comply, a pursuit through the Village of Morris. Deputies reported that during the pursuit, the unidentified driver attempted to pass another vehicle when his engine exploded and the vehicle caught fire. The suspect was taken into custody, numerous charges are pending, and firefighters from the Morris Fire Department extinguished the blaze.
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The Jericho Arts Council will open their fall season with a variety of shows at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater. Council Treasurer Phillip Wade said that the season starts Saturday with the award winning Beatles tribute band “Beatles For Sale” at 7:00 PM:

(Phillip Wade 9-13-18)

Tickets can be reserved by calling 288-3882, more information is available at JerichArts.com or at the council’s Facebook page.
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The Main Street Railroad Tracks in Sidney were re-opened Wednesday afternoon, following the conclusion of track work by crews from Norfolk Southern Railroad. Sidney Village crews began milling work on River Street & Division Street this morning.
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Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced the guilty pleas of Joseph Zupnik & Daniel Herman, the former owners and operators of Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Cooperstown, for endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. Herman and Zupnik’s guilty pleas included admissions that between May 28th and June 1st 2016, they recklessly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental, or moral welfare of a physically disabled person & failing to provide sufficient staff to provide the necessary care for one Focus resident, including, nutrition, medications, and incontinence care. Zupnik and Herman face sentencing on October 10, 2018.
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Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced her office’s Election Day Hotline, which is available to help troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters at the polls during the statewide primary election today. The Attorney General urges voters experiencing problems or issues at the polls to call the office’s hotline at 800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov at any time between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Thursday. The hotline will be staffed by attorneys and staff in the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau.
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Governor Cuomo announced more than 200 communities across the state have earned the Clean Energy Community designation, completing more than 1,250 total high-impact clean energy actions. The designation recognizes community leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy, all supporting the state’s clean energy goals. More than 450 communities are participating in the Clean Energy Communities initiative and have completed at least one high-impact action

WCDO NEWS FRIDAY 6-8-18

wcdonews — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 18:02:32 +0000

A plan to ban plastic grocery bags in New York State is not expected to pass the state legislature before the end of the 2018 session this month. Governor Cuomo proposed the idea earlier this year, a bill was introduced in the State Senate, but there was no companion legislation filed in the Assembly.
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The State Attorney General’s office has filed charged against 2 former owners of an Otsego County nursing facility. Joseph Zupnik & Daniel Herman face charges of endangering the welfare of residents at the former Focus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in the town of Otsego, the owners and their company is accused of reducing staffing to dangerous levels after acquiring the facility from the County in 2014. Centers Health care took over the facility earlier this year.
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FOX 40 & MY 8 in Binghamton will again be offered by Spectrum Cable, after it was announced that Northwest Broadcasting reached an agreement with Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum Cable. Several Northwest owned TV stations have been off the Spectrum line-up since February in the Binghamton & Syracuse markets, as well as stations in Arizona, California, Idaho & Washington. Spectrum officials said that the affected stations should return to their line-up today.
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The demolition of buildings at the Amphenol site at 191 Delaware Avenue is continuing. Several buildings from the company’s former site are being taken down; the Plating facility will remain at its current location there. The demolition is expected to continue for the next 2 to 3 months.
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The Meredith Dairy fest will be held this weekend at a site on Honest Brook Road in the town of Meredith. Several Dozen local vendors are expected at the event, which will be open Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM & Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
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The New York State Education Department announced that the Unadilla Valley School District will get a $775,000 grant, to fund a program where students can receive college credit for courses before leaving high school. The Grant is good for 5 years of the program.
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The Annual American Cancer Society’s Tri Town Relay For Life will be held today & tonight at General Clinton Park. Organizer Heather Brewster said that the teams have already raised quite a bit of money prior to the event:

(Heather Brewster 6-8-18)

The event raises money for cancer research, educational programs and services for cancer patients. WCDO will be broadcasting live this evening.
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The 38th annual Algonquin Antique Auto Show will be held this Sunday at General Clinton Park. The event begins at 9:00 AM Sunday; trophies will be awarded in 22 categories.
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The 50th Birthday Weekend Celebration will be celebrated Saturday at the Rogers Environmental Center in Sherburne. Arts & Music will be featured from 3:30 PM into the evening hours, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rogers. More information is available at friendsofrogers.org.
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The Chenango County Airport day will be held Saturday, at the Eaton Airport in Norwich. The event runs from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM, starting with a Fly In Breakfast, more information is available on the Eaton Airport Facebook page.