Christian Steagall, operations coordinator at the Georgia Innocence Project, keynoted the Martin Luther King Day commemoration organized Monday by Cooperstown’s First Presbyterian Church.
ONEONTA – Police Chief Douglas Brenner, at the helm of Oneonta police for four years, almost to the day, will retire in 30 days, Mayor Gary Herzig said this morning.
Until then, Brenner, 56, will be taking left-over vacation time unused due to the demands of a year of COVID-19. “It’s been a hectic year,” said the mayor. “He felt like it’s time. It’s been a taxing time for all of us.”
The mayor said while he didn’t expect Brenner’s announcement this week, the chief advised him last year that he had become eligible for retirement and intended to do so.
Lt. Chris Witzenburg, a detective appointed as Brenner’s deputy in 2017, will serve as interim chief, according to the mayor. A Civil Service exam for the job will be administered in March, and candidates who pass can then be interviewed and appointed later in the year.
County GOP Elections Commissioner Lori Lehenbauer has been elected chair of the county Republican Party. With her is her Democratic counterpart at the Board of Elections, Mike Henrici. (AllOTSEGO.com file photo)
SCHENEVUS – Lori Lehenbauer of Worcester, the county Republican elections commissioner since 2016, was elected Republican chairwoman when the county committee convened here last evening.
She succeeds Vince Casale, Republican chairman for the past seven years, who resigned in December, to devote more time to his political consultancy, The Casale Group, based in Cooperstown but serving candidates statewide.
“I’ve been a longstanding party member,” said Lehenbauer. “I’ve very grateful and honored that they picked me. I will work hard to represent all Republicans in Otsego County.”
Hanna Bergene in her “Staff Spotlight” photo on hellopaperkite.com. She is social media manager at PaperCreative.
COOPERSTOWN – Hanna Bergene, 29, well-known in Cooperstown affairs from her years as Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce marketing & events director, is running for the Village Board in the March elections.
Veteran Trustee Jim Dean, 80, a trustee for the past eight years, said he decided to step aside when he heard of Bergene’s interest. “I met with her and saw her bio,” he said. “I’m going to is step aside and make a space for her.” As the village comes out of the COVID Era, he said, younger people should be involved in building the future.
Representing 114 cumulative years of service, the staff of Artware, 170 Main St., Oneonta, bid farewell to the community. From left are Jenna Bordinget, Erin Hill, Susan Blass, owner Betsy Cunningham and Bill Austin. A staple of downtown business for nearly 40 years, Artware will be closing at the end of February. The building is now under new ownership. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Senator Oberacker on the job in his Albany office.
ALBANY – Otsego County’s new state senator, Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, has been named ranking Republican on two Senate committees: Internet & Technology and Alcoholism & Substance Abuse.
He will also serve on Education, Health, Higher Education and Judiciary.
“Being tasked with leadership roles on two senate committees is a major responsibility. Both of these key committees deal with vital issues that have intensified in need during the COVID pandemic.”
The next edition of The Freeman’s Journal and Hometown Oneonta (Jan. 14-15) will be a Tribute to State Sen. Jim Seward, who retired on Dec. 31 after serving Otsego County in Albany for 34 years.
You are welcome to participate. Please keep your tribute to 100 words, and email it by noon Monday, Jan. 11, along with your name and town of residence to
State Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, and Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, confer today in the senator’s Office 506 in the Legislative Office Building in Albany as the 2021 session gets underway. Oberacker, elected Nov. 3, and Salka, now in his second term, have said they plan to collaborate on two pieces of legislation in particular: One, to overturn bail reform and, two, to allow New Yorkers to accept or reject, without penalty, taking a COVID-19 vaccine. For details, see this week’s Freeman’s Journal and Hometown Oneonta. (Jeff Bishop photo)
COOPERSTOWN – Democratic unhappiness over how state Sen. Peter Oberacker was replaced on the county board spilled over at today’s reorganizational meeting.
County Board Chair David Bliss, R-Cooperstown/Town of Middlefield, was reelected, but the vote was 10-3, plus one abstention. And not before Bliss was criticized for partisanship, poor communication and a lack of vision.
“The people of the county deserve a county chair who puts the good of the county above party and does not work the rules for partisan advantage,” said Michelle Farwell, D-Morris, one of two reps speaking out against Bliss’ reelection.
The other was Jill Basile, D-Oneonta, who said, “We saw our lack of transparency, partisanship and poor communications in the appointment of the District 6 representative,” Jennifer Mickle, R-Town of Maryland, who succeeded Oberacker.
Antonio Delgado’s wife Lacey and their twin sons joined him Washington D.C. last evening as he was sworn in for a second term.
WASHINGTON – Otsego County’s congressman, Antonio Delgado, R-19, said he was “humbled and honored” on being sworn in for a second term last evening at the Capitol.
The swearing in took place on the House floor, by groups, to observe social distancing protocols.
Peter Oberacker is sworn in at 1 p.m. today in the Schenevus Fire Hall as state senator for the 51st District, which includes Otsego and nine other Central New York Counties. His wife Shannon holds the Bible. About 20 friends and well-wishers attended, the number limited by COVID precautions. A reception followed at FormTech Solutions, Oberacker’s business on Route 7 east of the hamlet. Inset, Oberacker’s FormTech partner and campaign manager, Ron Wheeler, is sworn in as Maryland town supervisor. His wife Christine holds the Bible. Town Justice Joseph Staruck, a fellow local judge for 28 years with Oberacker’s late mother, Carol, administered both oaths. Oberacker, who was a three-term county representatives for the Schenevus area (Maryland, Worcester, Westford and Decatur), succeeds state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, who represented the county in Albany for 34 years. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ONEONTA – Bonnie Cuozzo, Fox Hospital’s director of Hospitalist Services & Discharge Planning, is scheduled to be appointed deputy city clerk, according to Common Council’s agenda for its Tuesday meeting.
Tuesday’s session is also the Council’s annual reorganizational meeting.
COOPERSTOWN – Patricia Szarpa will retire as executive director of the Otsego Land Trust in February, the board of directors announced. An interim executive director will be appointed while a successor is sought.
During her tenure, Szarpa, former Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce executive director, worked to increase support from major funders, focused on preserving sensitive blocks of land in the Butternut Valley, and increased social media presence, including new website that will be launched by year’s end.
Heidi Bond, who led Otsego County’s fight against COVID-19, has been named Citizen of the Year by Hometown Oneonta, The Freeman’s Journal and www.AllOTSEGO.com. Get the full story in either newspaper, which are being delivered now and will be available on newsstands throughout Otsego County by the end of the afternoon.