Following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis last spring, Governor Cuomo issued an order requiring all 330 communities in New York State with police departments to form Community Advisory Boards to review “policies and procedures” by that date.
That covers three governments in Otsego County:
• The Village of Cooperstown: Monday, Feb. 22, the Village Board approved its “Police Reform Plan” more than a month ahead of schedule, having completed the review and taking it to public hearing. The findings can now be forwarded to the Governor’s Office.
Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch aboard “The Boat,” as her young daughters christened it in 1995. She and husband Gary have been enjoying relaxing on Glimmerglass’ waters ever since. (Jennifer Hill/AllOTSEGO.com)
By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig and wife Connie often make the trip up Route 28 to the Otsego Sailing Club. They enjoy sailing, but also teacher youngsters, like J.J. here, how to sail.
COOPERSTOWN – Not one, but two Otsego County mayors highly recommend boating on Glimmerglass this – or any – fall.
Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh and Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig have long loved boating on the lake – motor, sail, kayak, paddleboard – you name it. And while summer is peak boating time, both go out on Lake Otsego through autumn – Herzig and his wife Connie until mid-October, and Tillapaugh and her husband, Gary Kuch, until mid-November.
“The fall colors are glorious when you’re on Otsego Lake,” Tillapaugh said. “You’re surrounded by them.”
With her family’s house only 1½ blocks from the water’s edge, Tillapaugh grew up boating on Otsego Lake.
“I had my own little wooden boat at age 12,” she said, “which I bought with money I earned scooping up the golf balls people at the Country Club hit into the water.”
The feud between James Fenimore Cooper and Cooperstown over citizens’ unauthorized use of what today is the Three Mile Point village park went on four decades after the writer’s death in 1851, until Samuel Shaw, half-century editor/proprietor of The Freeman’s Journal, bought it from a Cooper heir in the 1890s and turn it over to the village. Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch recounted that controversy in discussing the history of the village’s four lakeside parks – Three Mile, plus Lakefront, Council Rock and Fairy Spring (no “s”) – at yesterday’s annual meeting of the Otsego Lake Association at Fairy Spring. The Lake Association named Jane Forbes Clark, inset, as its Lake Citizen of the Year, an honor accepted on her behalf by Bob Sutherland, Mohican Farm manager. In her lecture, Tillapaugh recounted how a feud between Clark’s grandfather, Stephen C. Clark, and his brother, Robert Sterling Clark, caused the latter to sell all his local holding in the 1930s and leave town; the Lakefront Park property went to Otsego County, and the village then bought it from the county for $15,000 with a gift from Robert Clark for that purpose. She also detailed more recent history, and how a park master plan in the 1990s open the door for grants to create today’s Three Mile Point; Rotary Club donations were also key to the effort. Jim Howarth and David Sanford continue as OLA co-presidents. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
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.
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)
Cooperstown Trustee Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch was sworn in today for another term on the Village Board by Village Administrator Teri Barown. Mayor Jeff Katz holds the Bible. Tillapaugh and Lou Allstadt, who was unable to attend today, were reelected in the March 21 village elections. (Jim Dean photo)
Celebrating their victories in today’s Cooperstown Village Board election are Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, right, with husband Gary Kuch, and Lou Allstadt, left, with wife Melinda Hardin. Joining them at Alex’s Bistro is their Village Board colleague Richard Sternberg. Tillapaugh again led the balloting for the two vacancies, 318, with Allstadt at 285. Challenger John Sansevere tallied 104. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Genevieve Smerski, right, voted a few minutes ago, casting the first ballot of today’s Cooperstown Village Board elections. Incumbents Lou Allstadt and Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch are being challenged by John Sansevere. The polls will be open until 9 p.m. Mrs. Smerski is accompanied by Bev Hargrove, who voted second. Election Inspector Tom Heitz assists. (Jim Kevlin/AllTOSEGO.com)
Incumbent Village Trustees Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, left, and Lou Allstadt, right, flank challenger John Sansevere, an independent, at the League of Women Voters’ forum Monday at Village Hall. Tillapaugh is running as a Democrat; Allstadt appears on the ballot on both independent and Democratic lines. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Editor’s Note: Here are two final Letters to the Editor endorsing candidates in the upcoming Cooperstown village elections. The polls will be open noon-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at the fire hall on Chestnut Street.
