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Volume 14, No. 14
AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE
Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, January 6, 2022
Schools reopen, protocols in place School districts in Otsego County reopened on Monday, January 3, amid a continuing rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the country, with the Omicron variant chiefly responsible. But the response from the various superintendents was to
stay the course and continue protocols that work for them, including guidelines such as mask wearing and social distancing. Cooperstown Central School Superintendent Sarah Spross said district protocol last changed in mid-December, with layered miti-
gation strategies provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Otsego County Department of Health, and the New York State Department of Education. The guidelines include designating
Bob Scanlon
A view on Goodyear Lake from the east side looking southwest
INSIDE ►WHO GETS TO RUN WHERE: Election district panel can’t decide on once-every-decade lines, page 2.
three-foot distancing spaces throughout school buildings. “District leadership and nursing staff are currently working with the ONC BOCES, area superintendents, and the Otsego County Health Department to review new guidance and its impact on our operational plan,” Ms. Spross said. Oneonta Central School Superintendent Tom Brindley said the city’s district remains prepared with safety precautions in place since the start of the 2020-21 school year. “If there is a cluster that breaks out in the classroom or grade, we’ll work with the Department of Health,” he said. Mr. Brindley said he wasn’t concerned COVID-19 would affect the school staying open. “As long as we can transport our kids, feed our kids, and cover faculty and staff absences, then we can remain open,” he said. Milford Central School interim Superintendent Romona Wenck said the district is ready for the opening regardless of COVID19 news. “We’ve been following the same protocols we’ve been following all year,” Ms. Wenck said. “We need to make sure we stay consistent and continue to move forward.” Continued on page 6
COMPLIMENTARY
Hello, first baby!
Bassett Healthcare Network’s Birthing Center in Cooperstown welcomed the first baby of 2022 at 4:14 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Lilliana Rose was born a week early to parents Eliana Matos and Israel Matos of Utica. Their little girl was born weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and is 19 inches long. Lilliana has two older siblings: Israel Jr., who turns 15 this week, and Isabella, who is 13. “Lilliana was a surprise baby,” says mom Eliana. “I had a feeling from the beginning she would be a New Year’s baby. She’s full of surprises and we could not be more blessed.” Congratulations to Eliana and Israel on the arrival of their baby girl on New Year’s Day. In 2021,1,036 babies were born at the Bassett Birthing Center. The Center welcomed four babies in all on New Year’s Day.
Mayor Drnek’s ‘singular focus’ on City’s growth By Kevin Limiti
►TERM LIMITS?: Governor Hochul, Republican candidate each put twoterm cap on the table, page 3. ►THE ‘OMICRON PARADOX’: It’s hard to tell which way is up these days, page 4. ►HANG ON, I’LL BE RIGHT THERE: Curious six-month-old Rottweiler has better things to do than come when he’s called, page 6. ►A FEW THOUGHTS ON IMPORTANT THINGS: Our columnists this week give a gold star to the new Milford COVID test site, celebrate the dawn of ‘Dry January,’ and begin a lifetime of avian delight, pages 4, 5, and 6.. Follow Breaking News On
AllOTSEGO.com Jennifer Armstrong
From left to right: (wife) Betsy Holland, (grandson) Rahmon Daily, Jr, Mayor Mark Drnek, Oneonta City Judge Bob Goulden.
The City of Oneonta welcomed its new mayor on New Year’s Day when former Eighth Ward Councilman Mark Drnek took the oath to assume his office. He already has changed City Hall: Mayor Drnek adopted City Administrator Greg Mattice’s plan to rearrange the office layout to “foster more coordination and collaboration” in the building. “I will always do what’s best for the business of organization or, in this case, the City,” Mayor Drnek said. The new mayor, who has lived in Oneonta for more than 38 years, said he is “really excited” to take on the new job. “I’ve been planning for nine months,” Mayor Drnek said. “I’ve come in with a whole lot of plans and strategies for what I want to do.” He said his experience as a Common Council member first elected in 2019 will help in the overall running of the City. “The relationships I’ve built since the
pandemic are going to make it easier to communicate,” he said of the Council. “We have a real bond of trust.” Mayor Drnek has held many different jobs throughout his life, including illustrator for children’s magazines, a morning on-air news reporter for WZOZ, director of creative services for The Daily Star, host of the radio show “Blue Light Central,” and owner of Sweet Home Productions, a multi-media production firm. The new mayor reiterated his campaign goal to market Oneonta in downstate and other media markets and attract at least 1,000 working people who might move to the city. Apart from public safety issues, it’s his top priority. “I want everybody to understand that this is something I am singularly focused on: marketing, attracting, and bringing one thousand new people into the city,” he said. “They’re going to find we’ve solved the problems that are counterintuitive to coming here,” targeting Continued on page 6
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD