Hail To The Chief! Life’s Goal Accomplished Pidgeon Retires By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ‘The Dark Horse fire,” Oneonta’s retiring fire chief, Pat Pidgeon, immediately responded when asked about the worst blaze he tackled in 36 years with the OFD. Pidgeon was strapped into the jump seat of the fire engine as it arrived around 5 a.m. March, 1, 1992, at 18 Market St. “There was an explosion,” he said. He looked over his shoulder. “A beam blew…
Online home of The Freeman's Journal and Hometown Oneonta
Advertisement
retirement - Page 2
Herzig To Retire Despite COVID-19, Much Let To Do, Mayor’s Decision Firm: It’s Time To Go By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com With would-be successors able to circulate petitions in the next few days, six-year Mayor Gary Herzig Tuesday, Feb. 23, announced what many expected and others anticipated with regret: He will retire when his term ends on Dec. 31, 2021. “During the past six years, by working together, the people of Oneonta have achieved remarkable progress,” he said…
Fresh Energy’s Needed To Implement Reforms Chief Brenner Explains Surprise Retirement By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com The City of Oneonta’s Citizen Advisory Board – Governor Cuomo mandated such entities statewide after George Floyd’s death – is due to report back April 1 with recommendations. “All of them seem reasonable,” said OPD Chief Doug Brenner in an interview after announcing his retirement. “They now need to be refined and implemented.” A new chief with time ahead of him to…
FOUGHT FOR LAKEFRONT, BUILT SANTA’S COTTAGE, PLAYED CARDIFF GIANT James Dean, Village Trustee, And Much More By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com James Dean, a Cooperstown village trustee since the Democratic sweep in 2012 began his party’s almost decade-long control of 22 Main St., is stepping down. While known today as a trustee, Dean has been part of the civic landscape long before that: • Since early 1981, when, recently arriving (in 1977) from New Jersey, he launched a…
Thank You Seward, Well Done! On Dec. 31, 2020, James L. Seward of Milford – everyone’s “Gentleman Jim” – retired from the New York State Senate, where he had served Otsego County since Jan. 1, 1986. Because of COVID-19, few of his constituents had the chance to say: Farewell – and thank you. When offered the opportunity, many of us – his fellow legislators, community leaders, top corporate executives and businesspeople, and citizens to whom he reached out and helped…
On Final Night, Champagne Toast With Cindy Seward Ready For Next Chapter One of the perks of being a state senator: When your term is up, you get to buy your chair for $25 as a memento of your service to the Empire State. The other day, Jim Seward’s chair was delivered to his home on North Main Street. Midnight on New Year’s Eve, 36 years of serving Otsego County will be over. “Cindy and I will be at home,…
Rubin: Revisit Plan; Then Hire President At County Chamber By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com As interim president of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, Al Rubin has committed up to a year of his time to recruit a successor to departing Barbara Ann Heegan. The president of A&D Transport Services, a 16-county medical transport business and local taxicab company, Rubin said he has no interest in the job. However, he wants to ensure the Chamber is in a…
LETTER from ERNA MORGAN McREYNOLDS The Joys, Challenges of Retirement Mom told me that they promised her the “Golden Years” but she got the “Rust Years.” She had dreamed of retiring. Yet after a couple of weeks into retirement her litany changed from “can’t wait to retire” to telling me: “Don’t do it’’. My Mom was born when women were supposed to stay home, while their husbands supported the family. But, my Dad, Mom’s husband, lost their farm and his…
LETTER from JERRY GROFF And Of An Era: The Groff Era Editor’s Note: This a letter of appreciation to the communities from Dr. Jerry Groff, who recently retired after decades among the hospital’s leadership. Today is Thanksgiving 2020. The historic challenges and losses in the past year remind us to take extra time to give thanks for the things that have been good in our lives. I completed my 37-year career at Bassett in October, and with that came the…
Village Gives Thanks To Retiring Barown Mayor Praises Her Institutional Knowledge, Efficiency, Expertise By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www. AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Despite the rain, they came to praise her: Teri Barown, village administrator for the past five years and village clerk for 10 before that. “Teri’s leadership abilities were always apparent and so very valued,” said Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, who also emceed the ceremony. “…All have benefited from her professional and skillful handling of village administration. “She…
