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Volume 13, No. 11
ONEONTA
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, December 17, 2020
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►WITH 10TH DEATH, COUNTY ‘OVERWHELMED,’ BOND SAYS/B2
City of The Hills
Now, It’s ‘OneBassett’ In an interview, Ibrahim said the reorganization of the eight-county network COOPERSTOWN that began when he arrived in June from Integris neBassett” is Health Systems in Oklahere, Network homa is largely complete. President/ Still, “we’re in the first Ibrahim CEO Tommy Ibrahim stages of transformation,” announced Friday, Dec. 11, he said. “Now the real and it will lead Bassett Healthwork begins.” care Network to profitability As an example of where the after four years in the red. Please See OneBassett, A3 By JIM KEVLIN
‘O Mayor Gary Herzig, Town Supervisor Bob Wood and Santa gathered in Muller Plaza to light the Oneonta Christmas Tree in a virtual ceremony broadcast by Destination Oneonta on Thursday, Dec. 10.
YOUNG DEMOCRAT TAKES ON VETERAN
Council Presents Senator Seward Key To Oneonta ONEONTA
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Marietta
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Benton
ooperstown Trustee raising state Sen. Jim MacGuire Benton Seward. R-Milford’s confirmed he plans “timeless’ support of to challenge veteran County city projects, Mayor Gary Rep. Andrew Marietta, Herzig presented the retiring D-Cooperstown/Fly Creek, senator with a Key to the in the June Democratic City, the city’s highest recogprimary. Details at nition, during the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, www. OTSEGO.com Dec. 15. Herzig praised Seward’s contributions to the City, including the “reinvention” of the Albert S. Nader Municipal Airport, the grandstand project at Damaschke Field and the Downtown Revitalization Fund. “I was born at Fox Hospital, I went to Oneonta D.A. Dismisses Idea; public schools, I graduated Reps Put Off Action from Hartwick College,” said Seward. “Oneonta is By JIM KEVLIN very special to me. This is not expected, but it is greatly appreciated.” COOPERSTOWN
All
Hospital Awaits 1st Vaccine By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
W
ith the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine just days away from a likely approval, Bassett Hospital is prepping to give the first vaccination to one of its healthcare
workers as the New Year starts. “It will be a celebration by our organization,” said Dr. Kelly Rudd, Clinical Pharmacy technician. “It’s a way to celebrate the beginning of the end of the pandemic.” Though 170,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were shipped across New York State this week, Bassett has Please See VACCINE, A3
At Year’s End, Transitions When Barbara Ann Heegan left her first job, counseling families of 9/11 victims, one of her clients anonymously left a “Flag of Honor,” with the names of all 2,996 victims on it, for her at the front desk. She’s hung it on her office wall at every job since.
Sanctuary Drive Hits Roadblock Chamber President Heegan Takes People Skills To Carolina
Follow Breaking New On
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he 2A Sanctuary Movement’s effort to banish all gun laws OTSEGO.com from Otsego County appears at a standstill, at least for now. ►Salka Bill would let you “The county board has no refuse vaccines. real authority or jurisdiction,” ►Cooperstown Distillery opens Saratoga store. county Rep. Dan Wilber, last ►broadcaster al michaels week told the county board’s wins Ford Frick Award. Public Safety & Legal Affairs ►flag flies at full staff at Committee, which he chairs. Main, Pioneer. “Enforcement is left to the ►Oneonta’s festival of lights district attorney and the starts this Friday in Neahwa sheriff’s office.” Park. Wilber said he’s conferring Please See SANCTUARY, B5
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Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
By JIM KEVLIN ONEONTA
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o job could be as tough at Barbara Ann Heegan’s first. Right out of SUNY Oneonta with a B.Sc. in Child & Family Studies,
she joined 9/11 Family Support Services in Elmont, L.I., where the Queens native had been raised, seeking to help 122 family members mourn the death of loved ones in the attack on the Twin Towers. About the same time, her mother, Florence, died. “While I was helping them, they
were helping me get back on a positive track,” said the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce president, who on Dec. 7 told the Chamber board she has agreed to join the Greenwood (S.C.) Chamber of Commerce as president/ CEO on Jan. 4. “You can be empowered by grief,” Please See HEEGAN, B5
Scrappy, Innovative GOP Chair Resigns, Focuses On Consultng By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
I
t was 2013. The issue was fracking. And four prominent local Republicans knocked on Vince Casale’s door. “It was conveyed to me that the party was in some trouble,”
said Casale, who last week advised the Republican County Committee he is resigning as chairman. “My work is done,” he said. “It’s time for a change.” He recommended Lori Lehenbauer of Worcester, Republican county elections commissioner, Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA as his successor. Vince Casale and wife (and fellow consulPlease See CASALE, B5 tant) Lynn Krogh with wall of memorabilia.
HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER
2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD