Mark Drnek wins Oneonta Mayor Race According to unofficial results available at press time, Mark Drnek (D) is the new mayor of Oneonta, defeating Republican challenger Len Carson. “I want to thank Len Carson for running a respectful and issue-oriented campaign, and I look forward to working with him in the realization of our many shared goals for the future of our City,” Drnek said in a statement. Mayor-elect Drnek’s statement continues:…
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A look at key local contests By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com Oneonta Mayor The months-long race to replace longtime Oneonta mayor Gary Herzig comes to an end next week when voters choose between Common Council members Mark Drnek (D) and Len Carson (R). The League of Women Voters hosted the candidates in a debate last week, during which Carson thanked Drnek for joining him in running a “gentleman’s campaign.” Drnek said he feels he is in “good shape”…
Oneonta won’t opt out on marijuana By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com The city of Oneonta has no plans to opt out of recreational sales of marijuana, according to local politicians. In New York’s legal marijuana bill, which passed April 30, municipalities are able to decide to opt out on marijuana dispensaries by Dec. 31. However, there is no movement to opt out in Oneonta. According to Mayor Gary Herzig, no one on the Common Council has advocated for…
Women’s reproductive rights rally encourages community involvement By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — About 100 people gathered in Muller Plaza at a rally for women’s reproductive rights Saturday, Oct. 2. The rally coincided with the Women’s March happening across the country as thousands marched in support of Roe v. Wade. The event featured music and speakers as well as pizza and lemonade. The looming issue throughout the rally was the harsh Texas anti-abortion laws barring abortions at…
Common Council holds public hearing on police report By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council held a public hearing for the long anticipated vote on the Community Advisory Board Review Committee report Tuesday, Sept. 21, created in response to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s directive that police departments create a document of “best practices” by local law enforcement with input from the community. Only two people spoke at the public hearing, both of whom were supportive…
AllOtsego Report: Mayoral Election edition Staff Report • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com We interviewed City of Oneonta mayoral candidates Mark Drnek and Len Carson for the AllOtsego Report Mayoral Election edition. Click here to listen to our interview with Mark Drnek. Democratic candidate for mayor, Mark Drnek, represents the Eighth Ward of Oneonta and is the owner of Sweet Home Productions and host of the syndicated radio show Blue Light Central. Click here to listen to our interview with Len Carson. Republican candidate…
Radio program from Oneonta, Blue Light Central, celebrates 1,000 episodes By PATRICK DEWEY • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com For the past several years since leaving the local air-waves, Mark Drnek’s blues radio show Blue Light Central has been chugging along happily on the Pacifica Radio Network, a radio company providing syndicated content for non-commercial and public radio stations across the country. Now, Drnek is celebrating 1,000 Blue Light Central shows he has produced and aired. Drnek, who is also the Eighth…
Common Council discusses COVID, budget, approves new asst. fire chief By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council approved the new Asst. Fire Chief, Timothy Foster to a round of applause Tuesday, Aug. 17, after some discussion about tabling the potential appointment until the situation with the COVID delta variant became more clear. The council was briefed on the situation with the coronavirus variant, a mutation that is steadily causing higher rates of infection City Health Officer…
Huntington hosts anniversary party By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta celebrated its centennial anniversary Saturday, Aug. 7, with an outdoor celebration at Huntington Memorial Park. Cupcakes on top of books, free drinks provided by Stewart’s and plants were given out at the celebration. The library turned 100 last year. However, because of COVID, the celebration got delayed. Mayoral candidates Mark Drnek and Len Carson were also on hand, with Drnek providing…
Mayor Gary Herzig sounds warning about COVID variant at Common Council By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 3, began with a message from Mayor Gary Herzig regarding the recent updates regarding the delta variant of the coronavirus. “We’re all concerned about the variant,” Herzig said. “The numbers aren’t alarming but they are going in the wrong direction.” Herzig likened it to a race between the virus and vaccinations. “Unfortunately, what we…
