CLICK FOR OVERVIEW OF NEW EFFORT Town-Gown Task Force Convenes First Meeting After meetings and discussions since last September, the City of Oneonta’s Town-Gown Task Force held its kickoff meeting Thursday over Vimeo. The effort is co-chaired by Common Council member Mark Drnek, who is running for mayor, and Melissa Marietta, SUNY Oneonta adminstrator. Both Mayor Gary Herzig and SUNY Oneonta President Dennis Craig are members.…
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Oneonta Republicans Endorse Len Carson Gelbsman Didn’t Concede At Caucus By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Mayoral candidate Len Carson announced a few minutes ago that he received the city Republican Committee’s endorsement this evening to run for the city’s top office in the Nov. 2 elections. The committee chair is Susan Lettis. Carson said both he and Craig Gelbsman, who has also indicated he is interested in running for mayor, were at the caucus. After receiving…
Councilman Drnek Running For Mayor ONEONTA – With yesterday’s statement by Mayor Gary Herzig that he would not seek another term, Democrat Mark Drnek, 8th Ward councilman, announced he is running to succeed him. Drnek, who describes himself as a longtime community activist and advocate for local business, has been active in the city’s COVID response in his first 14 months in office.…
Students Invited To Decorate Downtown By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Following the success of the downtown Halloween events, where SUNY and Hartwick students decorated scarecrows and handed out candy to trick-or-treaters, Council Member Mark Drnek, Eighth Ward and chair of the Survive, Then Thrive committee, has invited students to help decorate downtown for Christmas. “If you or your friends are artistically inclined, we would love it if you would help decorate our windows for Christmas,” he…
Drnek: Marketed Right, Oneonta Has Future As A Telecommuting Hub By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Calling Oneonta a “jewel,” Mayor Gary Herzig said that the city’s Economic Development Task Force is looking to not only support the city’s downtown, but bring people here to settle. “Our goal is to have every single business not only survive the crisis, but thrive afterwards,” he said during tonight’s Common Council meeting. “We’ve always known it was a jewel, but…
This Will End, And City Will Be Ready, Mayor Herzig Says Pangman, Drnek To Chair Task Force With Two Goals: Survive, Then Thrive By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – “Survive, then thrive.” That’s Mayor Gary Herzig’s mantra and message to a City of Oneonta economic-development task force that he expects will convene for the first time later this week. In an interview a few minutes ago, he said he’s asked Judy Pangman, the city’s community development director,…
Halfway Through Campaign ‘Onta Something,’ Trampoline Updates Common Council By IAN AUSTIN • Special To www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Following a presentation by Trampoline Advertising & Design, Co. this evening before Common Council, the big question was “When do we see results?” Derek Slayton, Partner and Creative Director of Trampoline addressed council this evening with graphic designer Ali Havens, to update Common Council on the progress of Oneonta’s new branding campaign, which was launched in 2018 as part of the DRI…
Council Goes Ahead With $70,000 For Destination Oneonta By JAMES CUMMINGS • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Two weeks after delaying funding for Destination Oneonta, Common Council voted unanimously to approve $70,000 for the downtown promotion organization. Still, questions remained. “Is there a vision and strategy for Destination Oneonta’s future,” said Council member Mark Drnek, Ward 8, who raised the original concerns, “in which it becomes more self-sustaining, even as its core mission remains unchanged but it’s membership grows to…
New Common Council Delaying $70,000 For Destination Oneonta Have Promoters Lost Focus? Asks Drnek At First Meeting By JAMES CUMMINGS • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Common Council voted this evening, 5-3, not to renew a $70,000 contract with Destination Oneonta for 2020, but to table it for further discussion. “I’m not really certain what the geographic parameters of Destination Oneonta are,” said Council member Mike Drnek, Ward Eight. Given that membership is expected to rise in the new year,…
LETTER from ANTHONY AVANZATO Drnek Knows How To Promote Business To the Editor: It’s nice to see young people getting involved in politics, so I commend Josh Bailey for running for Oneonta Common Council in Ward 8. However, we are at a time where experience and a historical perspective are warranted. I have known Mark Drnek for over 25 years and he has always had a good handle on what Oneonta needs and how to improve our community. The SweetHome…