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…
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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…
Oneonta Common Council has contentious vote on housing commission appointment, confirms new fire chief By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — In a two and a half hour meeting, the issue of housing was forefront as the Common Council struggled to come to agree on the choice of an out-of-city resident as part of the housing commission on Tuesday, July 20. This appointment was narrowly approved, 4-3, with Kaytee Lipari Shue, Len Carson and Scott Harrington being the…
Community Advisory Board document on OPD best practices set to be reviewed By KEVIN LIMITI• Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — A committee including mayoral candidates Mark Drnek and Len Carson approved final changes to the Community Advisory Board police review document, which will sent back to the original CAB members followed by a public hearing. The process should take about a month to complete, according to city officials. The Community Advisory Board met Tuesday, July 13, at City Hall to…
First in-person common council since COVID celebrates recent achievements By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council met in person Tuesday, July 6, with an atmosphere of visible joviality and relief after spending a year meeting via Zoom. “This is something we haven’t done in a long time,” Mayor Gary Herzig said, which elicited some appreciative chuckles. Some of the agenda items passed included motions authorizing the acceptance of a state grant for the development of…
Main Street in Oneonta will be closed for festivities Saturday, July 3 STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com Main Street in Oneonta will be closed for the “Meet me on Main” event this weekend, starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 3. The event will include music from three different stages as well as artists, vendors, ice cream, barbecue and outdoor dining. There will also be face painting, juggling and a picnic game challenge. Go to 8thwardoneonta.com/meet-me-on-main for more information.…
Campaigns Off To Fast Start In ’21 Revised Calendar Requires 6-Month Campaign Season By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com Election Day is still six months away, but in the past few days it’s been off to the races, the local races. With Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig’s announcing his retirement last week, three candidates immediately emerged to succeed him, a Democrat and two Republicans. Leading up to Tuesday, March 2, the first day nominating petitions can be circulated, a similar…
CLICK FOR OVERVIEW OF NEW EFFORT Town-Gown Task Force Convenes First Meeting After meetings and discussions since last September, the City of Oneonta’s Town-Gown Task Force held its kickoff meeting Thursday over Vimeo. The effort is co-chaired by Common Council member Mark Drnek, who is running for mayor, and Melissa Marietta, SUNY Oneonta adminstrator. Both Mayor Gary Herzig and SUNY Oneonta President Dennis Craig are members.…