(Gene Schmidt 5-24-17)

Schmidt said that the wall should be leaving Harpursville at around 10:00 AM, the set up of the Wall in Oneonta will take several hours to complete, the wall will be on display through about 4:00 PM Memorial Day.
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Officials with the General Clinton Canoe Regatta are looking to participants to several events coming up this weekend, Regatta Chairman John Harmon explains:

(John Harmon 5-24-17)

Harmon said that the number for soccer teams to sign up through VIP Payroll is 967-5627.
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Officials with The Spiedie Fest in Binghamton announced that Dennis DeYoung & the music of Styx, Blue Oyster Cult and Eddie Money will headline this year’s Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally. The festival will be held August 4th through the 6th this year, at Otsiningo Park in Binghamton.
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A new Sienna College poll finds Governor Cuomo is at his highest approval rating in 3 years. 61% of voters now say they view him favorably overall, and just over half 51% like the job he’s doing in office. Sienna officials said that Cuomo’s rise in popularity has steadily increased since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20th. The governor rated positively for higher education and human rights, but Cuomo needs to work on taxes, infrastructure and the economy.
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The Relay For Life of Tri-Town was closed early due to inclement weather on May 6th; organizers announced that the luminaria & closing ceremonies are being scheduled as a separate event, at General Clinton Park on Wednesday, May 31st from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served, those who would like to eat should RSVP to Kmoore@sidneyfcu.org. Officials also said that any new names that participants would like to be read In Memory can be emailed to MPalmatier@sidneyfcu.org.
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The New York State of Health announced the launch of the New York State Provider & Health Plan Look-Up, which is an online tool to research provider networks and health plans. Consumers shopping for health insurance can search for their preferred health care providers, including doctors and hospitals; to see which health plans have those providers in their network. More information is available at pndslookup.health.ny.gov.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with several organizations to hold a job fair on June 20th at SUNY Delhi. Chamber President Ray Pucci told WCDO News that employers are looking to expand, and many people are looking for work:

(Ray Pucci 5-22-17)

Employers looking to participate in the Job Fair can call the County Chamber at 746-2281, the fair will be held on June 20th at SUNY Delhi’s Farrell Hall from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
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The State Department of Labor released preliminary local area unemployment rates for April, the State’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%. Locally, Chenango County’s rate was 5%, Delaware County 5.4% & Otsego County 4.7%
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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will pay tribute to Homer Simpson and the “Homer at the Bat” episode of FOX’s THE SIMPSONS on Saturday, during Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, Events will include the “induction” of Homer Simpson into the Hall of Fame, and the first 4,500 fans in attendance at the Classic will receive a rally towel featuring original artwork of Homer Simpson wearing a Hall of Fame baseball uniform. Tickets are available at 1-877-726-9028 or at www.baseballhall.org.
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The Environmental Advocates of New York are making a push today in Albany to make clean air & clean water a Constitutional Right. The group cites recent drinking water contamination in Hoosick Falls & on Long Island, plus ongoing air quality concerns in arguing for stronger protections across the state.
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(Larry Halbert 5-22-17)

The first trip will be Friday starting @ 3:30 PM. The second day for this bus service is Saturday starting @ 10:00 AM. The bus will be starting in Bainbridge at the Great American parking lot, with stops at the Sidney American Legion, the Unadilla House Parking Lot and the Otego Legion both days. The service is free of charge, but reservations are requested at 237-4762.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 24-year-old Troy Ladlee of Delhi, for 1 count each of Driving While Ability Impaired Drugs, Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance, and Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument. Deputies responded to the report of a vehicle off the road and into a ditch, in the Town of Davenport. Ladlee was found unresponsive in the driver’s seat, after allegedly overdosing on heroin, he was administered Narcan at the scene, he was subsequently arraigned at the Town of Davenport Court and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail on $1,000 cash bail or $1,500.00 bond, he will appear before the Town of Davenport Court at a later date.
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The state’s ban on burning has ended but the DEC reminds residents to check for local laws & regulations regarding burning. Residents of towns with fewer than 20,000 residents may burn brush and tree limbs unless prohibited by local law. Residents in “fire towns” must obtain a permit. The DEC encourages residents to mulch or compost brush along with other yard waste. The DEC has a list of Frequently Asked Questions with answers at dec.ny.gov.
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The next meeting of the Oneonta Zoning & Housing Board of Appeals is this evening at City Hall. The meeting will be held in the Common Council Chamber tonight starting at 7:00 PM.
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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 18-year-old Ben Lane of Delhi, Wednesday on 4 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and 3 counts of unlawfully dealing with a child. Lane is accused of transporting 3 children in a motor vehicle to Delhi from Walton without notifying the parents, & allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a child under 17 years of age, and permitted the 3 children to remain on the premises where activity involving marijuana was maintained. Lane was arraigned & was remanded to the Delaware County Jail without bail pending future court action.
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The Chenango County Department of Public Health will hold a free rabies clinic this evening. The clinic will be held at the McDonough Town Barn from 5:00 to 6:00 PM for dogs, cats & Domesticated ferrets.
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The New York State Assembly approved 9 bills last week to reform and modernize New York’s outdated election system. If they become law, the bills would allow early voting and “no-excuse” absentee ballots, combine some primary elections, and allow online registration and automatic transfer of registrations when voters move within the state. Similar bills have passed the Assembly in previous years but have not made it through the state Senate. Last year, 1 in 3 candidates for the New York Legislature ran unopposed.
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High school artists from across the region have the opportunity to compete for a scholarship and the chance to display and sell their work alongside professional artists at the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival. Colorscape is a juried exhibition of art that draws 12,000 people to downtown Norwich each September. This year, it will take place on September 9th & 10th. Through the Francis K. Wilcox Emerging Young Artist Program, 2 high school artists will receive money for college, More information is available at 316-3212.
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The State Department of Taxation and Finance reminds property owners that now is the time to review their assessments. The deadline to challenge property assessment is tomorrow May 23rd in most communities. Property Owners can access the rolls at their town’s or city’s website, or by visiting the local assessor’s office. If you believe the market value listed on the assessment roll for your property is significantly higher than the price for which the property could be sold, visit the Contest Your Assessment web page on the Tax Department website at tax.ny.gov.
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The United States Air Force Heritage Brass will hold a free concert at the Anderson Center at SUNY Binghamton on Tuesday, June 13th at 7:30 PM. The concert is free and open to the public, the free tickets are available at the Anderson Center Box Office starting this morning at 11:00 AM, and they must be picked up in person with a limit of 4 per person.
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“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.