THEY REMEMBER CONGRESSMAN, VETERANS DIRECTOR AIM TO MAKE SURE VETERANS CARED FOR/B1
HOMETOWN ONEONTA !
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F Volume 7, No. 26
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch Complimentary
Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, March 20, 2015
Neighbors On The March
City of The Hills
Hemlock Road Residents Object To 71 Double-Wides On The Corner By LIBBY CUDMORE WEST ONEONTA
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hen a neighbor approached George Brown about a proposed adult community on Hemlock Road, he thought it was a great idea. “We’re all for affordable housing,” said Brown. “We need good quality townhouses and condos for seniors, like they have over at The Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA Plains.” Oneonta’s Cadence Then it came to light that developer Losie had confidence Jordan Whitney was proposing to put in her craft’s seawor71 double-wide modular homes on 29 thiness during a cardacres he owns at the corner of Hemboard-boat building lock and Route 47. “Every two homes exercise Friday, March 13, at the Family Y. But sister Christina isn’t so sure.
will be sharing a septic system, and there aren’t any plans for sidewalks,” said Brown. “There’s real potential for this to be a blight on our community.” He began circulating a petition, and soon garnered 82 signatures. And many of those neighbors packed the Town of Oneonta Planning Board meeting on Monday, March 16, to express their concerns. It’s still early in the SEQR process, said Joe Camarata, Planning Board chair, and Whitney hasn’t even turned in all his paperwork. But he allowed petitioners, who waited an hour and a half for the chance to speak, to comIan Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA ment. “I don’t want to sit on my porch Oneonta Town Planning Board chair Joe Camarata, in center Please See NEIGHBORS, A6 at front table, maintains order before a full house.
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Tifanne Remembered
A Piece Of City History Up For Sale
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fter five years, Tom Cormier is ready to let go of the Oneonta Theatre. The historic theater, which opened in 1897, was listed for $925,000 with Donna Schulz of Keller-Williams Realty in the past few days. “It’s a gorgeous building,” she said. “He really put his heart and soul into it.” The building also features Principally Prints and The Spot clothing store, as well as six apartments. According to the Otsego County Real Property Service, the property is assessed at $255,000, based on Cormier’s purchase price. CHICKENS IN: No one showed up at a public hearing Tuesday, March 17, on a proposed law allowing chickens to be raised in the city, and Mayor Southard said he would sign the bill into law.
TRAILBLAZING WOMEN WIN PLAUDITS
RACE UNDER FIRE
Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Tifanne’s Mother Bon Zuefle looks at family photos. She is joined by step-daughter Colleen Gaydorus.
300 Friends Hail Vigor, Vitality Of A Life Cut Short By LIBBY CUDMORE
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here was nothing Tifanne Wells wouldn’t do for Oneonta, said her sister, Shyloe Luehrs. “She loved this community,” said Shyloe. “We’re forever linked because we are better for having UPS AND DOWNS: known her.” County IDA President Sandy And on Friday, March 13, Mathes will speak on the 300 members of her commutopic, “The Good, The Bad nity joined together at Footand The Ugly” of economic hills to remember Wells, the development in Otsego victim in a Saturday, March 7, County at 8 a.m. Wednesday, shooting near Emmons. “It’s Tifanne April 1, at Citizen Voices’ Wells heartwarming to see everynext general meeting at the one stepped up,” she said. Carriage House. Public “There’s been a huge community outpourwelcome. Please See TIFANNE, A7
Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Joanne Fisher, a founding member of the local NAACP, right, and Deborah Marcus, Family Planning of South Central New York CEO, center, are honored for their courage, and OHS student Angela Brindley, left, for her heart.
By LIBBY CUDMORE
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he Trailblazers selection committee had a tough decision: Give the award to Joanne Fisher, a founding member of the local NAACP,
or to Deborah Marcus, CEO of Family Planning of South Central New York. “We just couldn’t decide,” said Joyce Miller, chair of the city’s Commission on Community Relations and Human Please See HONORS, A6
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