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VOLUME 135 — WHOLE 7103
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018
Cannon Library Page 10
Delhi Residents Promise Lawsuit Over County DPW Relocation to County Route 18
Delhi resident Richard Gumo urged the Delhi Town Council to adopt a resolution opposing the relocation of the Delaware County DPW facility to the McFarland Farm on County Route 18, promising a lawsuit if the county attempts to subvert zoning or threatens eminent domain. DELHI - Delaware County supervisors have been spreading false information about the county’s exemption from following town zoning laws in their pursuit of a new location for the Department of Public Works Delhi facility, according to Delhi resident Richard Gumo at a meeting of the Delhi Town
Council on Feb. 13. Gumo advised council members that Delaware County “is not immune from respecting town zoning laws,” though they have publicly stated that they are not required to do so. The court of appeals, Gumo said, has stated that “a county See DPW Lawsuit page 3
Walton Supervisor Delivers State of the Town Hears “No Hunting” Request from Marvin Hollow Resident
WALTON - Walton Supervisor Charlie Gregory summarized the town’s 2017 accomplishments and goals for 2018 in his ‘State of the Town’ message at a meeting of the Walton Town Council on Feb. 12. Among those accomplishments, Gregory said, was keeping the town debt-free and reducing the tax levy. Spending in the 2018 budget, Gregory said, went down $51,513. Initiatives included the installation and operation of flood gauges on East and West brooks to provide advance notice of flooding; the unveiling of Veterans’ Plaza, and the inclusion of Verizon and Sprint on the town’s cellphone tower. A new roof was installed on the highway department’s salt shed and additional highway equipment was purchased through the award of a $50,000 grant. A similar grant was obtained by the town for use in 2018. In the upcoming year, Walton will work toward completing a comprehensive plan - a “road
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map” for how the town would like to see itself develop in the future. Outside of that, the town will work to creating more green space following the demolition of Breakey Motors on Delaware Street, which will help reduce flooding. The town has also prioritized a the creation of a “river-edge” walking trail, among other projects. The detailed message can be found on the town’s website at townofwalton.org/offices/201801-30-state-of-the-town-message/. The town declined to take action on a request from a Marvin Hollow Road resident who asked that the council support their request to prohibit hunting on New York City-owned property on Marvin Hollow Road. The unnamed resident cited the fact that there are three full-time residents living on the road, as a basis for the request. Council member Luis Rodriguez-Betancourt pointed out that it was already illegal to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and that Walton largely relies on the economic benefits of hunting season. A presentation on the benefits of using social media was made by Katie Covell who has videotaped and uploaded town meetings to You Tube. Following the presentation, which was largely focused on a Facebook platform, council members agreed that though they thought social media was a good way to communicate information, they did not want people to be able to post comments or ask questions on a social media site operated by the town. See Walton Town Coucil page 3
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Walton Warriors are MAC Champs Page 11
Area School Administrators Comment on Safety Protocol By Rosie Cunningham DELAWARE COUNTY Local schools are doing all they can to prevent tragedy, including implementing more safety measures and using technology to enhance safety. Area administrators in Delaware County were contacted to discuss safety procedures and measures taken for student safety and security, but some school officials have not disclosed certain safety measures. Last Wednesday, a former student returned to a South Florida high school and opened fire with an assault rifle, killing 17 and injuring 15, just before dismissal. New York state requires schools to conduct 12 drills a year, four of which must be lockdowns, in which students are instructed to barricade the door and hide from view, typically in a corner that cannot be seen from the door. Police routinely do walkthroughs during lockdowns, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond said, to assist schools in preparation. “We come together as a law
enforcement and school community, and a lot of formal plans are made and placed with the school district,” DuMond said. According to Charlotte Valley (CV) Superintendent James Harter, policies due to the sensitive nature of security are confidential, but are submitted to New York state for review. Harter said that if there is a known threat to the school, the superintendent or his designee is responsible for issuing the alert. “We use all forms of communication, such as an ‘all call,’ Facebook, or our website to spread the word to our parents and community members,” he said. CV is state mandated to practice the necessary drills throughout the school year in accordance with the New York State Department of Education guidelines and timetables. He discussed how the process is explained to the students, particularly the younger children. “Our staff is very good at explaining the seriousness of each drill and the importance of keeping everyone safe during the safety and fire drills,” he said. CV teams with all local and
state law enforcement agencies throughout the year to conduct drills and scenarios to protect the children. “The Davenport Fire Department and other local fire departments also are an important ally in keeping our children safe by conducting trainings throughout the year,” said Harter. Charlotte Valley has 421 students enrolled and Harter said no firearms are allowed on school property. “Officers that frequently patrol our school are not on our payroll,” said Harter. Superintendent John Evans leads three school districts Downsville, Roscoe and Livingston Manor Central Schools. He also shared policies which are in place for tragic disasters such as a school shooting. “As required by NYSED (New York State Education Department), the Downsville Central School District has approved both building and district safety plans,” said Evans. “These plans, which are not made available to the general public for security reasons, outline the emergency protocols See Safety Protocol page 4
Delhi’s Rite Aid Store Purchased by Walgreens By Rosie Cunningham DELHI - There is a new Walgreens in town - the first in Delaware County. On Feb. 13, ownership of the location was transferred to Walgreens at 1 Main Street, Suite 6 in the Price Chopper Plaza. “Nationally, in all, we are acquiring 1,932 Rite Aid locations with the transitions occurring in two phases,” said James W. Graham Senior Manager, Media Relations First. “We will transfer ownership, which is occurring in waves. After the 1,932 store purchases are completed, stores will be converted to the Walgreens brand in phases over time. We anticipate the completion of the 1,932 store purchases in spring 2018.” According to Graham, when a store transfers ownership, the location becomes a Walgreensowned Rite Aid store. The associates in the Delhi store will become Walgreens employees and
Rosie Cunningham/The Reporter
Walgreens recently took ownership of the former Rite Aid store in Delhi. will operate a Walgreens pharmacy. For now, the “front” of the store will continue normal business operations under the Rite Aid brand and the external store signs will remain Rite Aid. However, there will be a sign on the window of the door indicating that the store is owned by Walgreens, in addition to signs at the pharmacy letting patients
know this is a Walgreens pharmacy. “Current customers who had Rite Aid prescriptions at that store should experience no interruptions in service,” Graham added. “Their prescriptions transferred to the Walgreens pharmacy in that store and they can refill as before.”
The 23rd Annual Polar Bear Jump Clearly a Victory By Rosie Cunningham PORTLANDVILLE - The 23rd annual Polar Bear Jump at Goodyear Lake in Portlandville was not only a blast, but a success. On Saturday, 225 participants gathered and more than $128,600 was raised for the recipients, surpassing last year’s $128,400 raised for those in need of fiscal support. In addition to Delaware Academy’s Henry Post (Crohn’s disease), other recipients, all of which were given $9,500, included Laura Mae Yoder (seizures), Mackenzie Cotten (side effects due to a premature birth), Levi VanEchaute (hemangioma, which caused the loss of an eye), Timothy Petry II (standard-risk
medulloblastoma), Cecily Ellis (auto-inflammatory bone disease), Katerina Misiewicz (intractable epilepsy, hydrocephalus and cerebral palsey), Fynn
Contributed Photo
Nicole Hitchcock, is ready to take the frosty jump into Goodyear Lake Saturday.
Munro (spinal injury), Vincenzo Campbell (type 1 diabetes), Declan Clark (hypopituitarism) and Donna Mitchell (multiple focal cortical dysplasia brain disorder). The Portlandville Methodist Church received $2,100, $400 each went to the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club, Oneonta Family YMCA, Susquehanna Animal Shelter, Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, Violence Intervention Program (a part of Opportunities for Otsego) and Hopeful Hearts, $2,500 each went to the Veterans Miracle Center and the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, Catskill Area Hospice ($9,500) and the Milford Fire Department and EMT ($1,000). A special moment at the event See Polar Bear Jump page 5