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espite All,
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irds Flourish
IN COVID YEAR, AT LEAST AVIAN POPULATION HEALTHY, COUNT FINDS/B1
HOMETOWN !
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F Volume 13, No. 14
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, January 7, 2021
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Cuomo Calls Out Fox Use Vaccine Or Lose It, He Says By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE COOPERSTOWN
I Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Carol Mandigo joined Santa in welcoming visitors Dec. 18 to the city’s first Festival of Lights.
Mandigo, Fest Creator, Given Key To Oneonta
n a daily press conference Monday, Jan. 4, Governor Cuomo called out Fox Hospital: If the Oneonta facility doesn’t use its anti-COVID vaccine allocation more quickly, it won’t get any more. The governor said Fox had only used 18 percent of the doses it has. Bassett Healthcare Network’s spokesman,
Karen Huxtable-Hooker, said that figure is actually 30 percent as of Tuesday the 5th, both at Fox and its Tri-Town Campus in Sidney. In all, she said, more than 2,000 Bassett Network staffers had been vaccinated, with 52 perCuomo cent of the Moderna virus This is the chart Governor Cuomo released supply used up. The network employs Monday, Jan. 4, showing Fox Hospital near the Please See CUOMO, B5 bottom in the number of staffers vaccinated.
New Senator Joining Salka To Stem COVID Overreach
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By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE
By JIM KEVLIN
ONEONTA arol Mandigo was presented the key to the city by Common Council Tuesday, Jan. 5, for creating this Christmas’ first “Festival of Lights” in the midst of the COVID threat. Mayor Gary Herzig and Council members also discussed making the light show in Neahwa Park a permanent feature of Oneonta Christmases in years to come. Mandigo has been active in “First Night” for years. This year, social distancing proscribed those activities, but the committee took it upon itself to organize the drive-through activity.
Thanksgiving Bubble Pops; County COVID Cases Drop 31 In Day COOPERSTOWN
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SCHENEVUS
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his could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Fresh from his swearing-in as state Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, in his hometown fire hall at 1:08 p.m. New Year’s Day, the freshman signaled he is planning to collaborate with Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, on two key pieces of legislation: • One, as he promised during the campaign, Oberacker plans to introduce legislation mirroring Salka’s to overturn the Democrats’ bail reform, which has allowed suspects in petty and some less-petty crimes to be immediately released. • Two, the new senator is planning to carry the flag in the Please See TEAM, B4
Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Senator Oberacker and his wife Shannon smile at the end of his swearing-in New Year’s Day in Schenevus.
BUSINESS PARTNERS RETHINK VILLAGE MAINSTAY ►Oneonta Man, Bruce S. Hall, 71, lost his life to COVID-19, Tuesday, Dec. 29. ►Bassett expands COVID-19 testing. Reservations at 4336510. By JIM KEVLIN ►Cooperstown to enforce no on-street parking in snowstorms. COOPERSTOWN ►Common council appoints Bonnie Coozzo as assistant att Denison, new proprietor of city clerk. Rudy’s with Joe Festa, remembers ►minimum wage rises but running into Karen Lemister in the farm work week unchanged alleyway between ►THE LEMISTER fami►benton abandons challenge the liquor store at ly’s window displays to County Rep. Marietta. 143 Main St. and Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA and Bassett hound ►Medical Researcher from Alex’s Bistro. Business partners Matt Denison, left, Barclay marked their Schenevus, Patrick Tyler dies “I think this is and Joe Festa have bought Rudy’s. tenure/B1 at 52. something you ►More New Yorkers moving husband Fred. One thing led to another, and would have a lot of fun with,” said Lemisout than moving in U-Haul over the Christmas holiday the venerable ter, who owned Rudy’s for 48 years with says. Please See PARTNERS, B2
Next Generation Buys Rudy’s
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fter burgeoning since Thanksgiving get-togethers, the number of active cases county-wide have suddenly dropped by 31 in a single day. Despite 10 new cases and 19 hospitalization of either new or ongoing cases being reported today, the total of active cases as of Tuesday, Jan. 5, was 126, 30-plus-one lower than the day before. Most likely, the drop is due to successful quarantines, said county Assistant Public Health Director Kim Schlosser, in charge while Director Heidi Bond is out of the office for a few days. “Ten days after testing positive, the individual is considered to be negative for the virus,” Schlosser said. And 10 days ago, local positive COVID cases saw a significant spike and, after successful quarantining, those individuals are now in the clear, she said. Hospitalizations have also declined by two in the last 24 hours and no new deaths have Please See CASES, B5
City Hall Seeks $400,000 To Redo Oneonta Theatre By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE ONEONTA
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ity Hall will seek $500,000 in state funding to restore the Oneonta Theatre, the former movie house at 27 Chestnut HOMETOWN ONEONTA file shot St. that has been on the mar- The Oneonta Theatre ket and unused for five years. has been on the market for five years. Mayor Gary Herzig received Common Council’s Main Street Anchor Program unanimous approval Tuesaimed at restoring vacant day, Jan. 5, to seek the buildings. money through the state’s Please See THEATRE, B4
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