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Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, May 25, 2012
Volume 4, No. 36
City of The Hills
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch TEA PARTY CHALLENGE
123rd SUNY ONEONTA COMMENCEMENT
OH, HAPPY DAY!
IBM exec Janet Perna addresses grads.
Seward Primary Possible By JIM KEVLIN
Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA Mark Davidson, a surgeon who worked with Dr. Ken Stalter of Oneonta, who died in January, heads for a second-place finish at the first Rat Snake Triathlon held Saturday, May 19, at Gilbert Lake State Park in the late physician’s honor.
Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
English major Colleen Clune, Oneonta, blows kisses to wellwishers on receiving her degree.
University Police Chief Barton Silverman receives a Chancellor’s Award and mantle from college President Nancy Kleniewski and Provost Maria Thompson.
3-Year Grads Earn Degrees At Hartwick
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welve students, the first class to complete Hartwick College’s novel three-year degree program, will be graduating at this year’s commencement at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, on Elmore Field. The intensive program, which allows undergrads to save 25 percent on their college bills, was hailed nationally when it was announced four years ago. Biotechnology executive Kathy Ordoñez, Class of 1972, is commencement speaker. CROSS CULTURE: A French-based tour and travel agency, Horizons du Monde, is seeking to place 12 French high school students, accompanied by Audrey Moreau, who teaches English in France, July 3-30, in Otsego County. Details, contact Teresa Winchester at 783.2064 or percyluna465@yahoo. com. OUT OF GAS: Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens has declared natural gas a “disaster” due to dropping prices and sold his shares in Chesapeake Energy, which had leases locally.
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or the first time since his first state Senate race in 1986, Milford Republican Jim Seward may be facing a GOP primary due to a disagreement over the Home Rule doctrine. “We’re just very frustrated with Home Rule,” said James Blake, a businessman living in the Town of Maryland since 2004. “It’s not really Home Rule; it’s a preemption bill he (Seward) put in allowing people to ban natural gas.”
HOMETOWN ONEONTA
James Blake, right, attended state Sen. Jim Seward’s Economic Development Summit March 9 at The Otesaga.
Blake and a neighbor, Jeannie Bridger, asked for the county Republican Please See GOP, A8
Democrat Opens HQ In County Valerie Jacoby of Afton sported the proud and relieved smile of a graduate’s parent – her daughter is Sabrina Niewiadomski – in the packed stands at the Dewar Arena. At right is husband John/MORE PHOTOS, A6-7
Getting To Know Chamber Members New Executive Heegan’s Top Priority By JIM KEVLIN
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s Plains at Parish Homestead marketing manager for three years, Barbara Ann Heegan has had to guide people through one of life’s most sensitive transitions: leaving homes they have lived in for decades for a retirement community. “They really have to be sure it’s the right fit,” said Heegan, who prior to that had been director of volunteers – more than 200 volunteers – for Bassett Healthcare. As Otsego County Chamber executive director – her appointment was announced Thursday, May 17 – she perceives her role similarly, as she seeks to attract members to the chamber and businesses to the community.
Tyner, Schreibman Vie In June Primary By LIBBY CUDMORE Serge Corbin is due back in the county.
ONEONTA
‘I
’ve been the underdog five times,” said Joel Tyner, a fivetime Dutchess County legislator, who is running against Julian Schriberman in the June 26 Democratic primary for the 19th Congressional District. “And I’ve come out on top all five of them.” In November, the winner of that will face off against U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, a Republican who spent May 10-11 in the Cooperstown Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA Barbara Ann Heegan is applauded by area. “We need a firecracker Chamber President Roxanna Hurlin every town,” Tyner said. burt, right, and board member Caro“It’s all about the buzz.” lyn Lewis. In Worcester, his cam“The chamber is a people business,” said paign firecracker is Diane Heegan, who has learned something about Please See TYNER, A11 Please See HEEGAN, A3
Winningest Racer Back For Regatta
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fter a seven-year hiatus, Serge Corbin, the unchallenged king of the General Clinton Regatta returns to Otsego County on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, to again claim his title. “I can’t just do it for fun,” said the 28-time winner and native of St. Boniface, Que., who will race down the Susquehanna from Cooperstown, past Oneonta, to Bainbridge in the 50th Please See RACE, A10
HOMETOWN ONEONTA, THE LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER IN OTSEGO COUNTY, 2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Saturday and Sunday May 26 & 27 10am-5pm The festival, on the shore of Otsego Lake, highlights select Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) artisans, storytellers, dancers, and more.
Concert with Grammy-Winner Joanne Shenandoah
May 26 at 7pm Tickets: $20
Entry to the festival is included with paid museum admission.
To learn more, visit FenimoreArtMuseum.org Iroquois Indian Museum
The festival is made possible through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and a contribution from Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation.
MUSEUM�ADMISSION�� Adults and Juniors (13-64): $12.00; Seniors (65+): $10.50; Children (12 and under):Free; NYSHA members, active military, and retired career military personnel: Free. FENIMORE�ART�MUSEUM 5798 State Route 80 Cooperstown, NY 607-547-1400
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, MAY 24-25, 2012
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Over Home Rule, Seward Faces First Primary In 26 Years
GOP/From A1 Committee’s endorsement when it met Thursday, May 17, at the county courthouse in Cooperstown. The committee rebuffed the request, however, voting 68-2 to endorse Seward for a 13th term. County Clerk Kathy Sinnot Gardner made the nomination, which was seconded by county Rep. Jim Power, R-Butternuts, and others. In an interview Tuesday, May 22, however, Blake said he will circulate petitions to get his name on the
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ballot for the 51st Senate District nomination in the Sept. 13 Republican primary. He announced his candidacy Saturday, May 16, at the annual gathering of local Tea Party activists at Chuck Pinkey’s River Valley New Holland dealership in Otego, and said he received general support. He also attended the meeting of Citizens Voices, the pro-business group, the subsequent Tuesday. Blake is also associated with Marie Lusins, the
Town of Oneonta Republican, who is a partner with his wife, Uni, in Hometown Energy Group, which has been holding seminars locally advising people on alternate energies. “People will say, you’re the fracking guy,” said the candidate. “No, I’m for any safe energy that will get us off OPEC. Wind isn’t ready. Solar isn’t ready. Natural gas is.” Reached at the state Capitol after the interview with Blake, Seward spokesman Jeff Bishop said of his
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boss, “Right now, he’s more focused on what’s going on in Albany.” Regardless of whether the challenger gets on the primary ballot, Seward’s “always out on the campaign trail, whether he has a challenger or he doesn’t have a challenger. He’s always had strong support, and I think he will again this time,” said Bishop. County GOP chair Sheila Ross, Fly Creek, who presided at the committee meeting, said, “I don’t know Mr. Blake. That was the first time I had any contact with him. He was not prepared. He wasn’t aware of what was involved. I was not impressed with Mr. Blake.” Ross was skeptical about where the challenge might go. “If he sticks with it, if he passes the petitions and if the petitions are OK, it would force a primary,” she said. For his part, Blake said he served on the GOP rules committee in Newt Gingrich’s former Georgia Congressional District, and was surprised when he questioned the local county committee that it was unclear on the regulations it was supposed to adhere to. “I wasn’t allowed to speak,” he added. Tony Casale of Cooperstown, the retired assembly-
man from Herkimer who is currently executive director of the state Republican Committee, said, “I don’t know who this challenger is. I’ve never heard of the person. But I don’t disparage anyone’s right to run for office.” But, he said, “In this particular instance, I’m going to support Jim Seward. He’s been my friend and colleague for many years. He represents the area very well.” The news of Blake’s candidacy was likewise a surprise to Democrats. The Cooperstown Democratic chair, Richie Abbate, who is also on the county Democratic Party’s executive committee, said the county committee will probably try to field a candidate against Seward this year, “but he’s a tough opponent. He’s very popular. I’m surprised he has a Republican challenger.” Home Rule is an issue where the senator has found himself caught in the middle. Traditionally a conservative doctrine to keep as much power at the local level as possible, Seward championed the idea that Otsego County towns, if they chose, could use the concept to ban hydrofracking within their borders. When the Town of
Middlefield, which adopted an anti-fracking moratorium, was sued by natural-gas interests and faced significant legal defense bills, the senator introduced a bill in Albany that would affirm Home Rule, strengthening the towns’ cases. However, that bill has languished. At its most recent meeting, Citizens Voices claimed credit for getting the bill bottled up in committee in Albany. Since the Middlefield ban and a similar one in the Town of Dryden have been affirmed in state Supreme Court, Bishop said Home Rule is “the law of the land” and, thus, the bill has less urgency. Blake, however, called the Seward bill “the most horrible proposed legislation I’ve seen in my lifetime.” In the interview, Blake said he was raised in northern Florida, attended college in Rome, Ga., and went into the insurance business, where he achieved some success. He later partnered with a brother-in-law in exporting Manila-stock paper to markets worldwide. He moved to Rochester in 2001, where he participated in an Internet venture, and discovered Otsego County while driving through the area. He, his wife and five children moved in 2004.
ONEONTA LITTLE LEAGUE Warren Quigley from N.B.T. lets the team know there is one out.
N.B.T.’s Jonny Lattenhauer keeps both eyes on the ball.
Upcoming
Good Luck
Little Leaguers!
Elijah Brandas with Up Country Photo swings for a line drive. Photos by: Amanda Hoepker/Hometown Oneonta
Supporting Oneonta Youth Congratulations! Athletics GLAS
S CO.
Have a Great Season!
Danny Zhang from N.B.T. makes a throw to first.
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Wednesday, May 23 5:45 N. Eagle - Stewart’s 5:45 Stereo Lab -Benson (F-2) Thursday, May 24 5:45 Police - Elks 5:45 6th Ward - Up Country (F-2) Saturday, May 26 10:00 Reinhardt - N. Eagle 10:00 Stereo Lab - N.B.T. (F-2) 12:00 Community - Elks 12:00 6th Ward - Benson (F-2) 2:00 Stewart’s - V.S.H. 2:00 C. Club - Sears (F-2) Monday, May 28 • Memorial Day 1:00 Police - Community 3:00 V.S.H. - Reinhardt 5:00 Elks - N. Eagle Tuesday, May 29 5:45 Reinhardt - Stewarts 5:45 Sears - Stereo Lab (F-2)
Have a Great Season!
Distinguished Business honoree
124 Oneida St., Oneonta, NY (607) - 432 - 3588 (607) - 432 - 3589 (800) - 698 - 1223
(607) 432 - 1105 8 Carbon St., Oneonta
Tyler Holcomb with Up Country Photo throws towards second.