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Volume 9, No. 11
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& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, December 16, 2016
Complimentary Ex-Soldier Who Lost Farm Sues County For $5M
As Chief, Nayor Moved OPD Past Crises As He Takes New Job, Youthful Leader Recalls Lessons Learned, Friendships Made By LIBBY CUDMORE
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PD Chief Dennis Nayor knew Batman and Superman weren’t exactly career options, so he became the next best thing. “To me, being in law enforcement was the closest thing to being a superhero,” he said. Nayor, the city’s top cop
Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Former Hartwick dean Kim Noling, GOHS Executive Director Bob Brzozowski and county Planning Director Karen Sullivan discuss possibilities for the Bettiol lot.
75 Brainstorm On Downtown At ‘Charrette’
AllOTSEGO.com
www.
PERFECT GIFT: Just in time for Christmas, the Oneonta History Center is offering a CD of its player piano music accompaning local singers like Joann Chmielowski and Stan Fox. CANCER AID: Community Bank President/CEO Mark Tryniski was in the city Friday, Dec. 9, delivering a $20,000 check to Fox Hospital, the last payment of a $100,000 commitment for a linear accelerator, a piece of equipment that can pinpoint treatment of cancer. HELP FOR ARC: The Arc Otsego has been awarded $873,000 state grant to upgrade its training center for handicapped workers on Browne Street.
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ob Force, a veteran who lost the Gilbertsville farm where he intended to retire in the county’s 2014 tax sale, has sued the County of Otsego and officials for $5-15 million in federal court. The notice was read into the record at the county board’s December meeting on the 7th. For details, go to
AllOTSEGO.com
www.
$3 Million ‘Food Hub’ Might Be Built In 2017
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lmost 100 citizens packed the Foothills atrium Tuesday, Dec. 13, blue-skying ideas for downtown Oneonta through a structure discussion called a “charrette.” “Great ideas, great energy,” said Mayor Gary Herzig. “People are honest with their ideas, and that’s what makes it work. The evening was one of several steps being taken to ensure community input on how a $10 million state grant will be used to revitalize Oneonta’s downtown. More details at
since 2012, recalled that In an original inspiration after anoffice filled with nouncing he has taken a new memenjob: director of research, toes and development and training at inspiring the state Association of Pomessaglice Chiefs in Schenectady. es, Nayor “It’s bittersweet,” he said. relives his “There’s nothing I can do Oneonta that will create more pride years. than I have in the Oneonta Police Department.” Please See NAYOR, A3 Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
CHRISTMAS BY THE CATALOGUE
Oneonta Wins Big In Cuomo’s Ec-Dev Awards By LIBBY CUDMORE
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Playboy brand pajamas were among the items in 20,000 catalogues sent to Otsego County homes during the department store’s heyday.
f Governor Cuomo’s latest $7 million investment in Otsego County, Oneonta got the biggest piece of the pie – a $4.12 million slice. “You take all these projects together and they’re all pieces of a puzzle that will revitalize Cuomo our city,” said Mayor Gary Herzig. With four projects funded inside the city, the top prize in the county was the Please See CFAS, A7
By LIBBY CUDMORE
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amilies throughout Otsego and Delaware counties knew Christmas was coming when the Bresee’s catalogue arrived in the mail. “We sent out 20,000 of them every year in a 50-mile radius,” said Marc Bresee of Milford Center, whose family owned the Oneonta department store since 1899 through 1994. “We did inserts and flyers throughout the year, but that Christmas catalogue was our big one.” “We carried every single item that was in that catalogue, in our store,” said his wife, Elaine Bresee. “And every year we matched our shopping bags to that cover. If there were candy canes on the cover, there were candy canes on the bag.” Please See BRESEE’S, A6
Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Elaine Bresee wears a coat that was listed in the family’s namesake catalogue, as husband Marc points out.
Oneonta Samaritan To Aid ‘Baby Hazel’ By LIBBY CUDMORE
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his Christmas, Amy Allen plans to give the gift of
life. “My husband Wayne and my step-kids Emmy and Connor were watch- Baby Hazel ing ‘American Ninja Warrior’ and this one man, Kenny Niemitalo, was competing to raise awareness for his baby girl, Please See HAZEL, A3
HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER 2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD