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FARMER WHO

ORGANIZED FEST

UNDER ARREST

As 1,500 Gathered On Hill, Knarich

Ignored Warnings, Sheriff Alleges

An attendee wanders through the 23 annual NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Fair/Political Rally Sunday afternoon atop Allen Road, Town of New Lisbon, about three miles northwest of Mount Vision. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

George Knarich is being held at the county jail, pending his arraignment. He is expected to be released this evening.

NEW LISBON – The organizer of what's been described as a pro-marijuana-legalization festival that drew as many as 1,500 people to a rural hilltop over the weekend was arrested this morning.

George A. Knarich, 55, is charged with violating Governor Cuomo's executive orders against COVID-Era mass gatherings on land, it is further alleged, that had been seized by Otsego County as a tax foreclosure – he didn't even own it.

According to Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr., his department received a tip that NY Harvest Fest & Freedom Fair/Political Rally, featuring music and vendors, was still scheduled, despite the executive order banning "non-essential gatherings" of 50 or more people.

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Now through July 31st, new or lapsed annual subscribers to the hard copy “Freeman’s Journal” (which also includes unlimited access to AllOtsego.com), or electronically to AllOtsego.com, can also give back to one of their favorite Otsego County charitable organizations.

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