SCHENEVUS – Ms. Shirley Ester Skinner, 106, passed away peacefully in her home in Schenevus, NY, on February 16, 2022.
She was born on her family farm on Badeau Hill, in Westford in the Town of Maryland, NY. She is the descendant of Pierre Badeau who homesteaded in the area in the 1700’s. Shirley is predeceased by her father, Stanley Wing Skinner, her mother, Pearl Gardner, her sister, Marjory, and her friend, Virginia Brady. Shirley’s grandparents were Fred and Jessie Stewart Gardner, and Amzy J. Skinner and Bertha Wing.
Shirley graduated in 1932 from The Town of Maryland Union School, then graduated from the Draper Schenevus School in 1934. She attended the Ballard School for Business in New York City for 2 years.
She had a remarkable life that included her love of nature, animals, politics, and travel. In the 1950’s, her trips to Europe, included sailing on ocean liners like The Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, The Constitution US, and the Mauretania. She also sailed on the last successful trip of the Andrea Doria before she sank off the coast of Cape Cod. She was proud of her ancestry as a Huguenot descendant from France.
New York State Police at Oneonta say they responded late in the afternoon of February 16 to a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree.
State Troopers, Schenevus Fire, Worcester Fire, and Otsego County Emergency Services all responded to State Route 7 (Main Street) across the road from the Schenevus Central Schools in the village of Schenevus.
Police say the driver, Stephanie N. Robinson, age 30 of Schenevus, was airlifted by LifeNet to Albany Medical Center for serious injuries. She was the only person in the car.
After community members voted down the Schenevus-Worcester schools merger on December 2, disappointment and a feeling of missed opportunity permeated in those who supported the union of their respective districts.
The final tally showed 70 percent of Schenevus community members voting against the merger. Worcester voters, on the other hand, voted to approve by a 64 percent – 36 percent margin.
State Senator Peter Oberacker (R-Schenevus) told The Freeman’s Journal/Hometown Oneonta that he would work in Albany to find more funding in next year’s state budget.
SCHENEVUS – Robert R. “Bob” Brady, 70, passed away at home in the comfort of his family on December 13, 2021.
Bob was born October 29, 1951, in Cooperstown, the son of Arthur and Virginia (Meade) Brady.
He graduated from Andrew S. Draper Central School in Schenevus. Bob worked as a driver for UPS for 29 years. He always kept busy with excavation side jobs, as he would say working with “big toys in the big sandbox”.
Schenevus and Worcester Central school districts vote December 1 to decide whether they merge the districts, a move which has divided residents.
If approved, the Worcester Central School district would annex Schenevus. The Schenevus school building would retain its name and dragon mascot, and function as a Kindergarten-through-fifth grade elementary school. Worcester Central would host grades 6 to 12.
Voters approved the merger in a non-binding straw poll in September 2021; the December 1 vote is a binding referendum.
It’s hard to believe but Oct. 16, is right around the corner. It’s a day I like to call “Soccer Saturday” as the Tri-Valley, Delaware and MAC leagues all hold their conference championship games at the Wright National Soccer Campus fields in Oneonta.
It is a great way to see some of the top teams from our area all in one location. Let’s take a look at how things are shaping up in the TVL as I am writing this Oct. 4.
The Otsego County Department of Health will be hosting a pop up vaccine clinic at Schenevus Central School with all who get the vaccine being entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Brooks BBQ.
According to statistics from the Otsego County Department of heath, 56% of Otsego County residents have at least one dose of the vaccine with still lags behind the rest of New York State at 62.2%.
“We are happy to partner with Schenevus Central School to offer this vaccine opportunity. We encourage people to make an appointment with us to get vaccinated, and help keep our county safe as we prepare to return for the school year,” Alex Scorzafava, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator at the Otsego County Department of Health, said in a media release. “Please visit the Otsego County Department of Health website to register for this clinic and to remain aware of future vaccine opportunities in our area.”
The Department of Health has also hosted vaccine clinics at the Otsego County Fair and the Hartwick Tractor Pull.
With the delta variant of the coronavirus virus causing jumps in cases across the county and the country, some Otsego County school districts are gearing up to welcome kids back to classes with masks on.
This is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, which has labeled Otsego County as a “substantial transmission” area where, in theory, masks are recommended indoors regardless of vaccination status. COVID cases have been on the rise across the country.
In Otsego County, as of Aug. 9, there were 72 active cases and four hospitalizations.
In Cooperstown Central Schools, while instruction will be in person, there will be a universal indoor mask policy as well as three-foot social distancing while maintaining cleaning and disinfecting at the schools.
HARTWICK – Deborah Jean Masin, a devoted and faithful Christian, went to be with her Lord Tuesday night, August 3, 2021, following her unexpected death at her home in Hartwick on the 15th anniversary of her mother’s passing. She was 67.
Born July 19, 1954, on Long Island, Debbie was one of four daughters of Edward F. and Helen Elizabeth (Wahrer) Masin.
In the 1960s, Debbie and her family moved to upstate New York and settled in Westford. Debbie graduated with honors from the Andrew S. Draper Central School in Schenevus with the Class of 1972. She later resided in Hartwick where she has lived ever since.
She had a steadfast devotion to the Lord, and was associated with Community Bible Chapel in Toddsville.
COOPERSTOWN – The county board’s Administration Committee recessed this morning without taking any action on the Democratic nominee to fill state Sen.-elect Peter Oberacker’s District seat.
The committee interviewed Democrat Diane Addesso, the former Worcester town supervisor.
But it decided, since the Admin Committee has a 3-2 Republican majority and has already endorsed Oneonta businesswoman Jennifer Mickle for the job, there was no point in pushing for a vote, said Admin Chair Meg Kennedy, C-Hartwick, Milford and New Lisbon.
The Addesso interview was conducted in executive session, closed to public view, as was Mickle’s interview last week.
COOPERSTOWN – A special Administration Committee meeting has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, to interview the Democrat-backed prospect to succeed state Sen.-elect Peter Oberacker in the county board’s District 6, Admin Chairman Meg Kennedy, C-Hartwick said today.
The meeting will not be Dec. 2, as previously reported.
The Democrats have already identified a prospect in District 6 (Maryland, Worcester, Westford and Decatur), according to Democratic County Chairman Clark Oliver. He said the candidate is a woman, but he hasn’t identified her yet.
SCHENEVUS – Republican county committee members from the county board’s District 6 met last evening and nominated Jennifer Mickle, a Town of Maryland resident and Oneonta businesswoman, to succeed state Senator-elect Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, on the county board.
The candidate, who also has experience in local government and community service, called it “a wonderful opportunity. I’ve always believed in public service and giving back to the community. I hope my experience will not only be a benefit to District 6, but to the county as a whole.”
SCHENEVUS – Beulah E. Tuckett, 91, a Schenevus native who pursued a career as secretary to high-ranking officers in the State Police, passed away on April 9, 2020, at the Baptist Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Scotia. She had lived in Voorheesville for many years.
She was born on Dec. 3, 1928 in Schenevus, the daughter of Carl and Emma (Vossler) Gesell. Beulah grew up on the family farm in Schenevus and graduated from Andrew S. Draper Central School in Schenevus in 1946. Immediately after high school she attended and graduated from Mildred Elley Business School in Albany.
