Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek laid out his vision for the future in his state of the city address on Tuesday. It includes promoting the Oneonta to Cooperstown corridor, attracting young families to move downtown and being more available to city residents. Source: https://www.wamc.org/news/2022-02-16/new-oneonta-mayor-delivers-first-state-of-the-city-address
Opportunities for Otsego’s Director of Crisis Intervention Services is elected to lead the Southern Tier Homeless Coalition Board of Directors for 2022. William Rivera oversees emergency housing and shelter services offered through the Violence Intervention Program and Emergency Housing Assistance Program. He has been on the Coalition board since 2019. Source: Press release
The City of Oneonta Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking input for development of a master plan for Wilber Park. An online survey will help the Commission recommend new parks facilities and will aid in the prioritization of improvements needed to existing facilities. The survey link is at oneonta.ny.us. Source: Press re;ease
A New Berlin man takes a plea deal on federal child pornography charges. Prosecutors say Brian T. Whipple used the internet to download photos and videos. When arrested in 2020 he more than 5,000 videos and images. Sentencing is set for June 14. Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/chenango-county-man-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-charges
A fire at a Glbertsville home on Monday takes the lifof a resident. According to authorities the woman was found inside the Maple Street home Monday morning. Fire crews from 5 other companies assisted Gilbertsville firefighters. The fire’s cause is under investigation. Source: https://www.wktv.com/news/fatal-fire-in-gilbertsville/article_47bf17b8-8e16-11ec-ab8a-035cb584d967.html
Sales tax collections for 2021 in New York were up by just over 19% according to a report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. It was the highest annual increase on record. Collections were up over 20% in Otsego and Delaware Counties and more than 18% in Chenango County. Source: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/files/local-government/publications/pdf/2021-local-sales-taxes-grew-by-over-19-percent-exceeded-pre-pandemic-levels.pdf
SUNY Oneonta’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Activity Showcase will be held both in-person and virtually on April 14 and 15. The deadline to submit presentation information and abstracts is Friday, March 11. A link is available at The Oneonta Bulletin. Source: SRCA Showcase – Call for Presenters
Bassett Healthcare Network hospitals now perrmit three visitors at a time per non-COVID-patient between the hours of 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily. COVID-positive patients may have virtual visits only. General inpatient visitors must be at least 12 years old. Full visitation guidelines are available on bassett.org. Source: Press release
The Otsego County Department of Health reports 3 more COVID-19 deaths have occurred this year.. It’s not known if any of the individuals were vaccinated. Since the pandemic began there been 108 deaths. The county’s positivity rate is now at 5.2%. Source: https://www.otsegocounty.com/departments/d-m/health_department/covid19.php
UHS Delaware Valley Hospital extends visitation hours from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 7 days per week. Non-COVID-19 patients can now have up to 2 visitors at a time 18 years of age and older. Patients with COVID-19 can have virtual visits. Source: Press release