Rally Organizers Seek To Address COVID Concerns Masks, Distancing, Hand-Sanitizer Planned For Cooperstown Protest By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Coronavirus-era concerns raised by 500 people packed into Muller Plaza at last Sunday’s rally for justice may be avoided this coming Sunday in front the county courthouse here. “We will have people spread out to the extent possible,” said Village Trustee MacGuire Benton, who attended last week’s rally and is one of four people organizing this one.…
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‘Justice For Floyd’ Rally Planned in Cooperstown By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Following the outpouring of support at the Oneonta “Justice for George Floyd” rally, a second such protest has been scheduled for Cooperstown at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 7 in front of the Otsego County Courthouse. “I was approached by my friend Maria Noto to help organize the protest,” said Village Trustee MacGuire Benton, who was at Sunday’s protest. “And I never say no to…
Cooperstown To Allow Outdoor Sales For Summer By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTESGO.com COOPERSTOWN – In an effort to help businesses and bring shoppers back downtown, the Cooperstown Village Board has declared June 1 through Oct. 12 as a Special Event, dubbed “Cooperstown Outdoors,” during their meeting this evening. Business owners in the Commercial District – Main Street – will be allowed to apply for a permit to hold sidewalk sales. “By establishing a special event, we can allow…
VILLAGE VOTING MORE COMPLICATED Campaign Signs To Go; Polling Issues Remain By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – In light of Governor Cuomo’s decision to postpone Wednesday’s village elections statewide due , the Cooperstown candidates have said they are pulling up their lawn signs for the time being. Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch is unopposed. MacGuire Benton, Joe Membrino and Mary Margaret Robbins Sohns are competing for two Village Board seats. The terms of Benton and Membrino, the two…
LOCAL VOTE POSTPONED Governor Delays Village Elections New Vote April 28, Same Day As Demo Presidential Primary Governor Cuomo early this evening delayed all village elections in New York State until April 28, the same day as the statewide Democratic Presidential Primary. “Delaying village elections will help ensure poll workers and voters are not potentially exposed to the virus and at the same time maintain integrity in our election system,” Cuomo said. Many such races are uncontested, but in the…
COVID-19 Crisis Makes Impact On Local Races COOPERSTOWN – Village trustee candidate MacGuire Benton announced a few minutes ago he is suspending door-to-door campaigning because of concerns about coronavirus. “It’s an unfortunate and difficult decision to make, as I am committed to knocking on every door and talking to as many voters as possible,” he said. “But it’s the right things to do during this COVID-19 crisis.” Meanwhile, candidate Mary Margaret Robbins Sohns said this morning she has contacted the…
ENDORSEMENT EDITORIAL Membrino Adeptly Fills Key Role: Finance Chair Interviewing the three candidates, it was quickly clear: Three exceptional people – and exceptional in different ways – are running for Cooperstown Village Board. Mary Margaret Robbins Sohns is a trained and organized pharmacist, a wife and mother, and someone with an inspiring personal story: enduring misdiagnosed Lyme disease and emerging victorious from a heart transplant. Joe Membrino is a semi-retired D.C. lawyer with a specialty in Indian affairs, who is…
Debate Keeps Turning Back To Main Street 2 Democrats, GOP Challenger Joust As 3/18 Elections Near By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – It was the bluntest opinion of this evening, on what to do about the former CVS at 100 Main St., the downtown centerpiece now vacant for three years. “They never should have allowed CVS to leave Main Street,” declared village trustee candidate Mary Margaret Robbins Sohns in response to a question from Jay Bosley, a…
Village Trustee Joins National Debate MacGuire Benton Backs Joe Biden For President COOPERSTOWN – Trustee MacGuire Benton, who is running for reelection to the Village Board in the March 18 election, today endorse Joe Biden for president. This election is about defeating Donald Trump, keeping a Democratic House majority, winning back the U.S. Senate and defending the Supreme Court from a complete takeover,” said Benton. “If we can’t do that, we’re sunk.” Here is the rest of his statement:…
MacGuire Benton Energized By Politics By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Laurie Pestar’s dilemma forged MacGuire Benton’s commitment to politics. Through political action, “you can change people lives,” the Democratic trustee said in an interview. He is seeking his first full term on the Village Board in the March 18 elections. In November 2016, Benton and friend Bobby Walker – Mac then headed the county’s Young Democrats; Bobby, the Young Republicans – circulated a petition supporting Laurie…
