TO HONOR BREWERY OMMEGANG, ATTORNEY SCARZAFAVA /B1
HOMETOWN ONEONTA E!
E FR Volume 6, No. 26
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch Complimentary
Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, March 21, 2014
City of The Hills
189 Main To Host ‘Business Center Of Future’ Smart Offices Say ‘Progress,’ Mathes Avers
By JIM KEVLIN
O
“It’s really the next step after our new identity and new brand,” said Sandy Mathes, the county’s “single point of contact” for economic development, as he walked through 5,400 square feet of office space, formerly the Oneonta City School
tsego County’s center of economic development is about to be launched in Oneonta’s aerie, the fifth floor of 189 Main, downtown’s highest point.
Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Morgan Picou, tended by Lillian JeanCharles, West Oneonta, tries out the bass drum at OWL’s Musical Madness Saturday, March 15, at Hartwick College.
Seward On Task Force Vs. Heroin
S
tate Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, has been appointed to the newly created Senate Task Force on Heroin & Opioid Addiction, aimed at combatting a scourge that’s increasing in his home county. “Heroin is infiltrating all social, economic and geographic sectors of our state,” said Seward. “We need to take definitive action to halt this ugly trend.” The task force will study the issue and recommend legislation. ON ETHICS: Jack
Abramoff, the influential lobbying during the George W. Bush administration jailed for his activities, will speak on ethics in government at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 24, at SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union, a guest of the college’s Young Republicans. Tickets $2. Public welcome. $500 TOP PRIZE: Leaf
Inc.’s theme for this year’s art and poetry contest, featuring $2,000 in prizes, is, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” with entries, on the theme of addiction-free living, due by Friday, April 11. Info, call Carol Mandigo at 432-0090, ext. 106, or leafartandpoetry@gmail.com
District’s administrative offices. “Whatever the business community needs, this will be the hub of activity,” said Mathes, adding that conversations are underway with two “valued partners” about sharing the space. But there is suf-
ficient space there for other economic-development entities, as well as classroom space for workforce development. Mathes said he had been seeking to locate the new Business Center in a locale that communicates “progressive,” that tells executives look Please See BUSINESS, A9
Eeek! ETHAN, WE ♥ YOU! In First Appearance Since ‘American Idol,’ He Tells Story, Wows Fans By LIBBY CUDMORE
Y
ou wouldn’t know it by the way he greeted the crowd of adoring fans who packed the Vinyl Vault on Saturday, March 15, but “American Idol” semi-finalist Ethan Harris used to be extremely shy. “I signed up for Oneonta Junior Idol to get over my stage fright,” he said during his first appearance back home since his elimination from the competition in the second round. “I had just put my first album out, but it was odd that I didn’t sing live.” He not only got over April Todd of Mor- his stage fright, but ris gets her idol’s excelled, taking the autograph. city’s 2011 Junior Idol title. It paved the way to open for “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” star Peyton List and country singer Melinda Doolittle at Foothills, as well as performing at events around the county. “If I had an opportunity to sing, I took it,” he said. Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA Harris worked the packed record store with a After being greeted by fans’ screams during his appearance at the Vinyl Vault, “Amerikind of star power he learned from studycan Idol” semi-finalist Ethan Harris poses with three of them, sisters Amanda, Lauren Please See IDOL, A8 and Nicole Lionetti, Fly Creek.
Exchange Student From ’73 Says Thanks later, he returned to By LIBBY CUDMORE Oneonta, this time with a gift of thanks for the In 1973, Lothar Bentz community and countook plenty of souvetry that nurtured him. nirs home to Hamburg, “Growing up, there was Germany, after his threemy mother and my father, week stay in Laurens but we had another fam– an American flag (he ily man too,” he said. hung it on his bedroom “Uncle Sam – he helped wall), a postcard of us, he protected us.” Oneonta’s Main Street Bentz’s parents told and, most treasured, a him stories of American certificate proclaiming HOMETOWN ONEONTA soldiers’ kindness after him an honorary citizen Lothar Bentz World War II, how they thanks Rotarians, of Oneonta. “I have would give sweets to the always had in mind this including club children and send care President Larry citizenship,” he said. packages, of the Berlin Guzy. And now, 40 years Please See BENTZ, A8
Pipeline ‘Boon To Region’ Press Conference At Amphenol Highlights Possibilities “After the flood, the key to Amphenol staying here was providing SIDNEY cheap energy to the new plant,” he said. “It was n an Amphenol critical to keep the jobs room still half-gutin order to keep the cost ted from the 2011 of the products low. floods, Oneonta’s Bruce Bringing this gas in will Hodges, president of garner a positive effect the International Assoin maintaining jobs in HOMETOWN ONEONTA ciation of Machinist & Sidney.” Oneonta union Aerospace Workers, local leader Bruce Hodges was one of lodge 1529, made a big several speakers at the Hodges praises announcement for the Tuesday, March 18, pipeline possiConstitution Pipeline. Please See GAS, A6 bilities. By IAN AUSTIN
I
HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER 2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
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