The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce held a recognition ceremony for 10- and 20-year members at a Business After Hours event in the Foothills Atrium. Above, the honorees pose for a group photo. Front row: Pat Knuth, ARC Otsego; Lizbeth Parent, Corning; Alicia Fish, Catskill Area Hospice; Mary Ann Bollinger, Community Bank, and Stacie Haynes, Susquehanna SPCA. Back row: Chris Hobert, Springbrook; Paul Landers, Pathfinder Village; Jim Kevlin, The Freeman’s Journal, Hometown Oneonta and All.OTSEGO.com; Alan Sessions, CDO Workforce; Nick Savin, ONC BOCES; Pete Armao, Country Club Auto; Dave Ohman, Delaware Engineering; Chris Kuhn, Oneonta Job Corps Academy, and Johnna Peachin, Peachin & Associates. At right, Otsego County Chamber President Barbara Ann Heegan, presents Chris Kuhn, director of OJCA, with his certificate marking 10 years with the chamber. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
NETWORKING – 5:30-7:30 p.m. Celebrate 10 and 20 year member anniversaries with the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce at their Business After Hours event. Foothills, 24 Market St., Oneonta. Info, confirmation, (607) 432-4500.
Mayor Gary Herzig heralds Table Rock Bouldering as “a business that is exactly right for Oneonta,” at the rock climbing venue’s ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday evening. Standing next to the mayor are, from left, proprietor Jay Shultis, Barbara Ann Heegan, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce president, and manager Luke Malone. In back, Eamon Connors demonstrates his gravity-defying climbing abilities. (Jennifer Hill/AllOTSEGO.com)
CAREER EXPO – 5 – 8 p.m. Students, families, adults are invited to learn what careers are available in our region, educational opportunities, more. Meet with business, college exhibitors to learn what opportunities can be found in our backyard. ONC Boces, 1914 Co. Hwy. 35, Milford. 607-432-4500 ext. 104 or visit otsegocc.com
Ahead of opening his Oneonta office on Thursday, Feb. 7, Congressman Antonio Delgado, D-19, met with members of Otsego County’s small business community at Hartwick College’s Shineman Chapel this afternoon. “I’m best equipped as your advocate when I have spoken to you” he told, seated from left, Michelle Catan, Small Business Development Center director; Jill Morgan-Meek, owner, Transitions Boutique; Otsego Now CEO Jody Zakrevsky, and developer Ed May. The discussion was hosted by the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, and earlier that afternoon, Delgado spoke with the Leatherstocking Young Farmers. At right, Jason Tabor, Principal Financial Group of Cooperstown and President, Friends of Bassett, engages Delgado on his thoughts about solving the county’s housing crisis. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Concerned Citizens of Oneonta’s Kate O’Donnell, the Hartwick College professor who organized an energy forum in Oneonta two weeks ago, was among today’s attendees. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
HeeganRubin
COOPERSTOWN – In the end, 170 – up from 125 a week ago, and 155 a couple of days ago – today listened for eight hours to presentations on the United States’ – and Otsego County’s – energy future from some of the most knowledgeable people in New York State.
The venue was the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce’s “Energy Summit: Energy & The Economy,” which finished up in late afternoon in The Otesaga’s pretty-close-to-full ballroom.
When it was over, Al Rubin, chairman of the chamber’s board, and chamber President Barbara Ann Heegan both said they were pleased by the amount of information the 19 varied presenters delivered in mostly 15-minute segments between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“This wasn’t about debate,” said Rubin. “This was about listening to what other people had to say. This event met and beat our expectations.” But, he added, “The work begins now.”
Scott White, left, Bank of Cooperstown president, listens as Al Rubin, Otsego County Chamber board president, welcomes 155 participants to today’s Otsego Chamber Energy Summit in The Otesaga’s ballroom in Cooperstown. The all-day summit includes a range of speakers, from NYSEG president Carl Taylor to Karen Bee, SUNY vice chancellor for Capital Projects, looking for a consensus balance between the county’s economic development needs and environmental concerns. The event continues until 6 p.m. tonight. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ENERGY SUMMIT – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Explore energy, climate change, our region’s economy with area industry leaders, policy makers from across New York State. Learn, network, more. The Otesaga, Cooperstown. 607-432-4500 ext. 104 or visit otsegocc.com
FILM SCREENING – 6:30 p.m. Beat Cabin Fever with “A Quiet Place” (2018) set in a post-apocalyptic future. Free with donation. The Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig, center, touted plans for a forthcoming re-design of Main Street as part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative, with work slated to begin this spring. With him on the panel, from right, are Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh and state Senator Jim Seward, R-Milford, speaking at the annual State of the State Breakfast, hosted by the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Senator Seward said, when downstate gets something, Upstate must as well.
ONEONTA – This will be the year, Mayor Gary Herzig said, that the City of Oneonta begins to see the results of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants
“In 60 days, we’ll unveil the redesign of our downtown,” he said. “And this redesign is not by City Hall, but by 80 downtown business owners who have submitted proposals for $2.5 million in funding for improvements. This is a downtown made possibly by the energy of our local businesses.”
Herzig, alongside Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch and state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, spoke at the annual State of the State breakfast, hosted by the Otsego County Chamber this morning at SUNY Oneonta’s Morris Hall.
BENEFIT AUCTION – 5:30 p.m. Annual benefit for Greater Oneonta Historical Society features hundreds of items up for live, silent, bucket auctions. Kevin Herrick of Lettis Auction will be auctioneer. Quality Inn, 141 Courtyard Dr., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org/upcomingevents.htm
UPSTAIR/DOWNSTAIRS TOUR – 10:30 a.m. 95 minute look into both sides of English Country Manor House through 5 generations of family, staff. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. 607-547-5098 or visit hydehall.org/event/upstairs-downstairs-special-tours-nov-16-2018/
Delaware Engineering hosted an open house and cut the ribbon on their new offices at 55 South Main St. in Oneonta this afternoon. “We looked at a lot of places,” said John Brust, principal. “But it was important that we stay in the City of Oneonta.” From left, Dave Ohman, president, Brust, state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, Mary Beth Bianconi, partner, Mayor Gary Herzig, Brock Juusola, partner, Barbara Ann Heegan, president, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and Karen Laing, member services for the Chamber. (Libby Cudmore/AllOTSEGO.com)
Congressman John Faso, R-19, above, meets with the owner’s of Noah’s World in Oneonta, Sheila Andreic and husband Aleksandar, during a visit to Oneonta today. “The congressman … wanted to learn about initiatives in our county that focus on early learning and development.” said Barbara Ann Heegan, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce president. “I immediately thought of Noah’s World. They provide an excellent service for … parents who work struggle to find affordable, quality childcare.” He then went next door to tour the production floor of Toonie Moonie Organics with owner Kim Condon, inset, seen overlooking their kitchen. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Oneonta Job Corp Academy Director Chris Kuhn, above left, accepts the NBT Bank Quality of Life Award from Jamie Reynolds, the bank’s regional executive and senior VP, this evening at the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce’s first Summer Soiree under a tent on the tarmac of Oneonta Municipal Airport. Inset, OCCA President Vicky Lentz, left, and Executive Director Leslie Orzetti accept a proclamation from state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, after the Otsego County Conservation Association received the chamber’s NBT Insurance Agency Environmental Stewardship Award. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
NATURE WALK – 10 – 11:30 a.m. Get the kids out exploring different habitats in the park, identify plants, animals, use a journal to record observations. Meet at Spruce Street entrance, Wilber Park, Oneonta. Call 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/get-the-kids-out-nature-identification/
AUTHORS SERIES – 1 p.m. Baseball author David Kelly present and discuss book “Ballpark Mysteries: The Cardinals Caper” Followed by a book signing in the Atrium. Included with Museum admission. The Bullpen Theater, Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-7200 or visit baseballhall.org/node/17198?date=0
The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce held a recognition ceremony for 10- and 20-year members at a Business After Hours event in the Foothills Atrium. Above, the honorees pose for a group photo. Front row: Pat Knuth, ARC Otsego; Lizbeth Parent, Corning; Alicia Fish, Catskill Area Hospice; Mary Ann Bollinger, Community Bank, and Stacie Haynes, Susquehanna SPCA. Back row: Chris Hobert, Springbrook; Paul Landers, Pathfinder Village; Jim Kevlin, The Freeman’s Journal, Hometown Oneonta and All.OTSEGO.com; Alan Sessions, CDO Workforce; Nick Savin, ONC BOCES; Pete Armao, Country Club Auto; Dave Ohman, Delaware Engineering; Chris Kuhn, Oneonta Job Corps Academy, and Johnna Peachin, Peachin & Associates. At right, Otsego County Chamber President Barbara Ann Heegan, presents Chris Kuhn, director of OJCA, with his certificate marking 10 years with the chamber. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
