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Cooperstown’s Newspaper
O M C O PE
AS EARTH DAY ARRIVES, SUN SHINES ON OTSEGO COUNTY/B1
For 206 Years
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VISIT WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM Volume 206, No. 15
COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
The Freeman’s Journal
With $25 parking permits now on sale at the Village Clerk’s Office, Chief Mike Covert instructs the new parking enforcement officer, Justina Wilkens, on the task ahead. A December SUNY Delhi criminal justice grad, she is following in the footsteps of her dad, County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jack Wilkens.
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, April 10, 2014
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Cooperstown, Milford To Merge On Gridiron 2 Schools Participate In National Program
Applauding Katz’s second swearing-in as mayor are, from left, Charlie Keeler, former trustee Lynne Mebust, Trustee Cindy Falk, former mayor Carol Waller (hidden), Otsego Town Supervisor Anne Geddes Atwell and her husband, Jim, and mayoral son Joey Katz.
By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
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re-HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Bassett Set To Close Up Psych Ward COOPERSTOWN
HUNTER CHARGED: Hunter Robert R. Gerbino of Long Island was reportedly charged Tuesday, April 8, with criminally negligent homicide in the Nov. 16 death of hunter Charles Bruce, 52, in the Town of Westford. SIGN OF SPRING: The Fly Creek Cider Mill opened Thursday, April 10, for its 158th season.
No Tax Hike In Village Budget. Any Questions? COOPERSTOWN
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nable to recruit psychiatrists and support staff, Bassett Hospital plans to close its second-floor psychiatric ward and shift to a “mobile crisis program”. Current patients can remain until discharge, but those needing longer care will be transferred to facilities in Schenectady, Binghamton or Utica. In the future, individuals in crisis will be processed in the emergency room, but those needing inpatient care will be transferred.
t’s a chance for Milford Central students to play football, and perhaps for Wolfe the CCS Hawkeyes’ football team to play at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome. Starting this fall, MCS athletes will be able to play football on CCS Modified and Varsity teams. “Lots of kids love football, and their Please See FOOTBALL, A7
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Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Cooperstown Fire Chief Jim Tallman, right, congratulates Mayor Jeff Katz after the mayor and Trustee Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch were sworn-in for second terms on the Village Board Monday afternoon, April 8. Trustee Lou Allstadt, also reelected, was unable to attend due to his mother-in-law’s passing/MORE PHOTOS, C1
he tax levy would rise $1 in the Village of Cooperstown’s proposed 201415 budget. The tax rate would go down by 44/1,000ths of a penny. Total revenues and ap- The public propriations are going up hearing on the budget is 6:30 1.11 percent. p.m. Thursday, If you, village taxApril 10, at 22 payer, object to any of this, you can object when Main. Review document at the Village Board, as required by law, convenes WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM a public hearing on the budget at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at 22 Please See BUDGET, C2
In Parking Lot, Students You May Not Notice MOSA’s End Envision A Prettier Place Casella Wins Bid To Administer County’s Garbage Collecting System By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
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o to the Cornell Cooperative Extension building at 123 Lake today, you’ll see
flower beds marked off with deteriorating railroad ties. You’ll see a gravel parking lot that often functions as a U-turn for school buses and tourists. “We’re only required to have 10 spots,” said Please See CHARETTE, C1
By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
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t the end of the month, MOSA will end with a whimper. “You’re going to wake up May 1, you’re going to put your bag on the curb,
and it’s going to disappear,” said Karen Sullivan, Otsego County planning director. Except a reduction in hours at the transfer stations, “you aren’t going to see anything different, except Casella shirts instead of MOSA shirts. “No one’s going to know anything even happened.” Please See MOSA, A7
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD