Scott Foster of the Upstate Companies, Mount Upton, today works on the foundation of a new Pioneer Park bike rack under the watchful eye of Steve Austin, supervising engineer with Barton & Loguidice. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Trustee Cindy Falk, Streets Committee chair, last evening examined the progress, which has been held up by the rain.
COOPERSTOWN – Village Trustee Cindy Falk foresees a “pocket oasis in the downtown” when the work now underway in Pioneer Park is done.
Beginning last week, a trench is being dug to create a foundation for a bike rack and bike repair station, and a final plan for the whole park is now being prepared by landscape architect Michael Haas of Delta Engineering, Endwell.
But, as part of the $2 million federal grant to be implemented next year, the final park should include a space for gatherings and performances, a drinking fountain with bottle-filling station, a cobblestone surface and new plantings.
Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh and Trustees Cindy Falk and Jim Dean gathered with well-wishers at the Tillapaugh-Kuch home on Beaver Street Tuesday evening to celebrate their victory in that day’s Cooperstown village elections. From left are Dean, the Falks (son Isaac, husband Glen and the candidate), the mayor and husband Gary Kuch, Dean’s wife Eileen and Jeff Katz, who retires as mayor at the end of the month. Falk and Dean turned back a Republican challenger; Tillapaugh was unopposed. (Martin Tillapaugh photo)
COOPERSTOWN – The two Democratic incumbents on the Village Board, Cindy Falk and Jim Dean, emphatically turned back a challenge from the one Republican, Fred Schneider, in today’s village elections.
Falk led trustee balloting with 218 votes, followed by Dean with 178. Schneider garnered 75. The three were competing for two open seats.
Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, who was unopposed for mayor, garnered 230 votes.
COOPERSTOWN – Three candidates will be seeking two village trustee positions when polls open noon-9 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, March 20) at the fire house on Chestnut Street.
The two Democratic incumbents, Cindy Falk and Jim Dean, are running for another term, challenged by Republican Fred Schneider.
The mayoral candidate, current Deputy Mayor & Trustee Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, a Democrat, is running unopposed to succeeded veteran Mayor Jeff Katz.
With two Cooperstown Village Trustee seats up for election, candidate Fred Schneider and incumbents Cindy Falk and James Dean discussed on various topics in a debate organized by the Otsego County League of Women Voters. The event was scheduled to go until 9pm but village residents in attendance only had a few questions to ask the candidates ahead of the Mar. 20 election. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
COOPERSTOWN – Two candidates for Village Board in the March 20 election – Jon Becker for mayor and Art Boden for trustee – have left the race.
Both have signed the “certificates of declination” required after receiving a party endorsement, according to Village Administrator Teri Barown, who oversees village elections.
Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, in light blue, joins the applause a few minutes ago for retiring Mayor Jeff Katz, right, at the Democratic caucus at 22 Main, Cooperstown. Katz then nominated Tillapaugh for the Democratic nod to succeed him in the March 20 village elections. Tillapaugh’s husband, Town Justice Gary Kuch, seconded the nomination, which was carried unanimously. The Democrats, meeting in the second-floor ballroom at 22 Main, then unanimously nominated incumbent trustees Cindy Falk and Jim Dean, seated to Tillapaugh’s right, for three-years term. The Republican caucus is at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Village Board room at 22 Main. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
An artist’s rendering shows the single traffic light hanging on a single strand above the Chestnut and Main intersection has survived rigorous federal review. One difference from this rendering: Instead of bricks, the crosswalks will be stripes of glass aggregate now being marketed nationally by Andela Products, Richfield Springs. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO,com)
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
NYDOT’s Dave MacEwan points out that the sidewalk in front of Mel’s is being widened by 8 feet to make crossing Chestnut Street less of a hair-raising experience for tourists. Pedestrian signals will also be added.
COOPERSTOWN – Friends of what is, celebrate!
The single traffic light on a single strand across the Main and Chestnut intersection has survived the Village of Cooperstown’s first foray into federal transportation funding.
“For DOT” – the U.S. Department of Transportation – “it’s going to be a unique solution,” Village Trustee Cindy Falk, Street Committee chair, observed after recessing the final public review required in a funding process that had gone on since August 2013.
Federal regulations require two traffic signals for every lane entering an intersection, and originally had four signals rigged from poles that would have hung over the intersection from all corners, to the horror of members of the public who attended the first public review in March 2015.
Larry Bennett, Ommegang creative director, this evening asked the Cooperstown Village Board for use of Pioneer Park next Monday to shoot a commercial for Brewery Ommegang. His request was accepted, and a $500 location fee levied. In the background are trustees Jim Dean, Cindy Falk and Ellen Tillapaugh. (Libby Cudmore/AllOTSEGO.com)
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – Lights, camera, Cooperstown!
“We see a line of men, waiting in Pioneer Park,” said Larry Bennett, Ommegang’s creative director, as he outlined his vision for a commercial before the Village Board this evening. “What are they waiting for? The camera pans up to Santa’s cottage, and Mrs. Claus welcomes him inside. He goes to Santa, Santa opens his ‘Nice or Naughty’ book, and then hands him a bottle of Three Philosophers.”
Village Trustees Jim Dean and Cindy Falk discuss the impacts of the proposed sunset clause in the new tourist accommodation laws. (Libby Cudmore/AllOTSEGO.com)
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – With the deadline for tourist-accommodation permits nearing and a moratorium in its fifth month, Mayor Jeff Katz updated the Village Board, saying he foresees tighter regulations on housing for visitors to the village.
“Clearly, the future is going to be where tourist accommodations in the village are harder to come by,” said Katz. “We’re not saying you can’t have tourist accommodations, but we’re working on bolstering the definition of owner, occupancy and owner-occupancy.”
