2016: A year in review
Editor’s Note: What follows are snippets from some of the top stories that appeared in The Evening Sun throughout 2016.
IRT-Greater Chenango Cares made rare return to Chenango
Take two of the 2015 summer installation of military vehicles, service personnel dressed in fatigues and scores of many appreciative community members took over the Norwich High School Campus during Greater Chenango Cares-Innovative Readiness Training (IRT).
Lead agency, Chenango United Way, spearheaded its own army of community volunteers to pull off yet another successful event that in 2015 performed nearly 15,000 procedures to some 2,400 patients at no cost – a value of more than $1.3 million.
“This was a great opportunity for our entire community in 2015, and we're pleased that the United Way was able to negotiate a contract for this to happen for a second year, right here in Chenango County,” said Victoria Mitchell of Chenango United Way in May. The military IRT is a Department of Defense (DOD) training exercise which provides real world training scenarios to military personnel and service members, all while supporting the needs of rural, under-served and economically challenged communities.
Drug Kingpin awaits retrial following judicial errors in County court
Michael A. Victor Jr, who was found guilty in Chenango County Court in 2010 on ten counts including narcotic sales and firearms possession, returned to Norwich to appear in court after being granted a retrial. As decided by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York on May 5, one of the ten counts was dismissed, and Victor is to receive a new trial on the remaining nine counts that he faced after his initial arrest in 2010. In mid October, it was reported that Victor's retrial was to be delayed into 2017 pending an expected response from the Court of Appeals. Judge James E. Downey, who presided over the case, conveyed that there was two separate issues to discuss during the conference; one being the status of the prosecution's appeal on the overturning of Victor's original conviction, which was sent to the court of appeals on June 30; the other being that defense counsel wishes to have $1,800 allocated in order to hire a private investigator.
Grace said that he has still not received the records of his clients trial from his previous counsel, and requested that if a new trial is going to take place, he would need at least 60 days in order to properly review all of the material. Until a response is received from the court of appeals, a decision on a new trial cannot be made.
Madison, Otsego Sheriff’s made swift work of Edmeston NBT Robbery
On May 23, the Otsego County 911 call center took an emergency call from an alarm monitoring system reporting a robbery at the NBT Bank, located at 1 West St. in the Village of Edmeston. A suspect originally described as a white male in his mid to late 20's, approximately 5'7'' to 5'10'' tall and of thin build was soon identified as Dennis D. Gelatt of Earlville. According to a release issued by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, it is alleged that Gelatt entered the bank and waited in line with other customers. When he got to the teller’s window, he demanded cash. No weapon was displayed, but authorities say one was “implied.”
When Gelatt obtained the cash, he fled the bank on foot, running to a parked vehicle on West Street. Gelatt then allegedly drove away from the bank heading west on Otsego County Highway 20. Following the robbery, the Unadilla Valley Central School was placed on lockdown. On June 5, the Otsego and Madison County Sheriff’s Offices executed a search warrant at a Madison County residence, arresting Gelatt. Gelatt was charged with robbery in the second degree, a class C felony. He was arraigned in the Town of Edmeston court and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $25,000 cash bail.
Roots and Wings program re-opens doors after lack of funding
Not even three months after closing to re-evaluate its business model, Roots and Wings of Chenango County has finally re-opened the doors of its clothing and household goods center.
Roots and Wings, a Norwich-based emergency services and self-sufficiency program operated under the auspices of Catholic Charities of Chenango County, closed its clothing center on Berry Street in January. Program organizers said the purpose was to restructure the program in a way that makes it more fiscally viable.
Roots and Wings provides clothing, food, household goods and furniture for individuals and families in need.
We want to be able to still reach out to our customers – the needy, and people who are low-income – so we’re keeping prices low,” said Mandeville. “People have been starting to come back just by word of mouth.” Catholic Charities started exploring the prospects of a thrift store model in November. Citing the tremendous financial burden fronted by Roots and Wings in recent years (despite a steady increase in community needs), Catholic Charities began researching various thrift store concepts. Catholic Charities Executive Director Robin Beckwith said at the time that Roots and Wings was losing a substantial amount of money that the organization simply couldn’t recoup.
Ramsaran murder conviction overturned
Ganesh 'Remy' Ramsaran – the man who was convicted of second-degree murder of his wife, Jennifer, back on Dec. 1, 2014 – saw his conviction reversed on Thursday after an appeal decision handed down by the Supreme Court, Appellate Division: Third Judicial Department.
Jennifer Ramsaran, the defendant's wife and the victim in the case, went missing on Dec. 11, 2012. She was last seen at her home in New Berlin that morning. The defendant reported her missing around 8 p.m. that evening after she failed to report home from a shopping trip in Syracuse.
An extensive search followed, and Jennifer's body was finally discovered down an embankment adjacent to Center Road in the Town of Pharsalia on Feb. 26, 2013. It was determined that the victim had been killed by unnatural causes some months prior, although an official cause of death was never determined.
Ramsaran was arrested for the murder of Jennifer on May 17, 2013. On May 24, 2013, he was indicted by a Chenango County grand jury on one count of second degree murder, a class A-1 felony, in connection with the alleged crime.
After a trial lasting just under three weeks, Ramsaran was found guilty of second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve a term of 25 years to life in prison.
During the trial, Ramsaran was represented by defense attorney Gilberto Garcia. In their decision to reverse the conviction, the Appellate Court did “find merit to (the) defendant's contention that certain errors rendered defense council ineffective, thereby depriving (the) defendant of a fair trial.”
DCMO-BOCES appoints new Superintendent
In May of 2016, new leadership has been placed at the helm of DCMO BOCES ending the district’s extensive seven-month search process for a new superintendent.
BOCES Board members voted and approved Perry Dewey III to the position of District Superintendent. Dewey will oversee BOCES’ contract operations across its 16 component school districts in Delaware, Chenango, Madison and Otsego counties.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve the DCMO BOCES region,” Dewey said in a statement on Friday. “Through strategically focusing on student needs and regional partnerships with business and post-secondary institutions, we will be able to provide a brighter future for our students and rural communities. With this in mind, I am looking forward to working with the leaders in the region to build relationships with all stakeholders and moving forward together to provide excellent educational programming for all of our students.”
Dewey is a native of Sherman, in Chautauqua County, and is certified in school district administration by the NYS Department of Education. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Bonaventure University and a bachelor’s in agriculture technology from Empire State College.
Dewey previously served as Superintendent of the Madison Central School District, a role he filled for nearly five years. During that time, the district implemented a strong strategic plan that fulfilled several educational initiatives, including a full-day pre-K program; and a college and career ready program which earned the district bronze level recognition from U.S. News and World Report.
Kurt Beyer flirts with chopping block—receives Band-Aid
While costly repairs are inevitable down the road, the Norwich Common Council reluctantly voted to make bare minimum fixes to the Kurt Beyer Pool that will keep the pool open for another season though 2016.
The fate of the public pool was still uncertain in the spring of 2016, when city officials were getting estimates for necessary repairs that approached $15,000 for a one-year fix. That number, however, has now been pared down to $10,000 which will cover costs to patch tile and grout, and to hire someone to maintain the pool throughout the summer.
Notwithstanding fears that the Kurt Beyer Pool in Norwich would be closed for the season, necessary repairs to the pool have finally been made and swimming was opened to the public on in mid-July. Plans for 2017 management of the pool remans to be seen.
Initial Sherburne Slaughterhouse deal scrapped, local developer renews interest
Earlier this year, it was revealed that All In Meats, Inc., the newly formed Utica-based enterprise behind the Sherburne slaughterhouse proposal, had hit financial barriers which prevented it from moving forward with the project. County Planning and Economic Development Committee received word that All In Meats CEO Donald Meeker is no longer being considered for the project, but that there may be news about a similar project on the horizon—and after months of planning and development, those initial plans of developing an industrial sized slaughterhouse in the Town of Sherburne are dead in the water – but not for long. In the early fall of 2016, it was announced that local developer and business owner Jim Webb had concocted a new startup with much the same vision at a neighboring plot on County Highway 23 in the Town of Sherburne, former home of Lok-N-Logs, Inc.
The newly proposed slaughterhouse project eyeing Sherburne brought standing-room-only crowds to several Sherburne Planning Board meetings, and some 700 Sherburne are residents (prompted by Residents United Against Industrial Slaughterhouses [RUAIS]) have signed petitions with hopes of derailing the company's—and Webb's— efforts to bring the plant to Chenango County. But despite the opposition, Webb and CNY Meats, LLC are moving forward with the appropriate zoning and regulatory agencies to bring the project into fruition.
NBT bids fond farewell to longtime leader
In 2016, NBT Bank close the book on one of its the most important chapters in the company’s 160-year history today, marking the retirement of a man who helped the organization reconnect with its community banking roots, ushering a path of continued growth and prosperity.
On May 3 following 28 dedicated years of exemplary service, Daryl R. Forsythe will competed his current term as Director and retire as Chairman of the NBT Bank and NBT Bancorp Boards.
“Daryl’s impact on NBT has been tremendous,” said NBT President and CEO Martin Dietrich. “During his tenure, the company has grown from a community bank with a local presence in central New York to one of the leading financial services organizations in the northeast at a time when the banking industry has faced many historic challenges. On behalf of all NBT directors, our nearly 1,800 employees and our retirees, I extend our deeply-felt gratitude and appreciation for the dedication, leadership and vision Daryl has provided.”
Chobani extends parental paid leave policy
Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Chobani Hamdi Ulukaya stopped in to their plant in New Berlin on Wednesday morning to make two announcements directly to the employees of Chobani.
About 200 workers from the New Berlin and Norwich plants were present for the announcements where Ulukaya introduced a new extended parental paid leave policy for employees of Chobani.
Beginning on January 1, 2017, all full-time employees, mothers and fathers alike, will receive six weeks of 100 percent paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
“The most critical and valuable investment we can give our children for their future is the time we spend with them. Nothing else,” Ulukaya said during his address to the company. “They don't care how you live, how much money you have, what kind of car you drive, or what you look like. It doesn't matter. What matters the most is this human connection between parent and child. And it would be the saddest thing to not be with them because you have to go to work. And that stops now.”
“How do you go and still work when you have a new baby at home? It's just impossible. I had no idea about this until I had this baby. This is the most beautiful thing you can have in the whole universe, so how do you go to work?” Ulukaya said. “We will cherish this, so you do the same thing. I encourage every one of you to take advantage of this. We love when you care about your family, because in the end, we are all family here.”
Ulukaya went on to say that he doesn't believe that this is an act of giving, rather an acknowledgment of the need, and a call to action to make it right. “It is inhumane not to have it,” he said. “It's not right to have it in some office places, but not in the factory. We will inspire others to do it too.”
Tom Libous passes away
Former State Senator Tom Libous, once a powerhouse in the state capital, lost his seven-year battle with prostate cancer, announced former staff member Emmanuel Priest in May of 2016.
Libous was a leading member of the New York State Republican party, having served 14 terms as a representative of the state’s 52nd Senate District. His political influence spanned the course of three decades, starting in 1984 when he was elected to represent Binghamton’s south side on the Binghamton City Council. He was re-elected to that position in 1987. Regarded for his ability to connect with people throughout the Southern Tier, Libous was elected to the New York Senate in 1988 – a post he held until 2015.
“He certainly was a friend of the Southern Tier,” said Lawrence Wilcox, chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors. “He was always available and responsive to our needs here in Chenango County as well as the other counties that he represented.”
Libous announced that he was being treated for prostate cancer in 2009. By 2012, the disease had reportedly spread to his lungs. Sources say he had entered Hospice care in Endicott merely a week before his passing.
Dogs chained in woods, man issued appearance ticket
Seven Pit Bulls have been rescued and are said to be doing well after a Johnson City man was ticketed for animal cruelty charges. Anthony Thompson now faced the misdemeanor charge of overdriving, torturing, or injuring an animal; essentially Thompson is said to have failed to provide adequate water, shelter or food for the seven dogs who were recovered on the property. After obtaining a warrant, members of the CCSO along with Matt Bates, The North Norwich Dog Control Officer returned to the property. Bates and the Sheriff’s Deputies at the scene found the dogs down in the wooded area behind the residence. Allegedly the seven dogs were all chained with short logging chains with significant signs of the dogs being involved in dog fighting. All seven of the dogs have been transported to a local veterinarian and are doing much better than previously. Thompson was charged and cited with appearance ticket for these alleged crimes, and is set to appear in court at a later date.
”Road Raged” Guzy convicted of murder
The matter of the People vs. John M. Guzy found Guzy guilty for the killing of Derek D. Prindle and seriously injuring his Father Derek S. Prindle in a parking lot in Bainbridge. Judge Revoir sentenced Guzy to serve 40 years to life on the top two charges he was facing; Murder in the second degree, a class A-1 felony; and attempted murder in the second degree, a class B felony. In addition to the top two charges, Guzy was also found guilty on felony counts of first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. He also was convicted of driving while intoxicated and six counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors. These sentences will all run concurrently with the top two convictions.
Young girls raise more than $2k for Chenango Health Network
In June, three young girls set up a temporary tattoo stand in hopes to raise money for the Chenango Health Network. This program helps Chenango County women who are diagnosed with breast cancer gynecological cancer and cannot afford treatment. Madison Murphy, 8, Julia Lein, 4, and Josslyn Lein, 3 were very excited to participate in the fundraiser and be able to help those in the community. Tattoos ranged from princesses, superheroes, phrases, stars, and various other choices, including pink ribbons.The girls raised $2,321 for the Chenango Health Network’s financial assistance program.The three were presented with a plaque of thanks from the Chenango Health Network, as well as other tokens of appreciation.
‘America’s Best Communities’ loss triggers ‘StartUp Norwich’ initiative
A nine-month endeavor to be named “America’s Best Community” came to an end this week upon news that Norwich will not move on in a privately funded, multi-million dollar competition. The America’s Best Community contest is aimed to spurr the economy of small communities. Frontier, in partnerships with Dish Network, CoBank, and the Weather Channel, put up $10 million for the competition which the company says will provide a wealth of creative ideas about how to revitalize small towns and rural communities. The America’s Best Communities pannel announced that Norwich falls short in its implementation plan, making it ineligible for the $100,000 prize that’s awarded in the semi-finalist and finalist rounds of the competition. The initial project in the Greater Norwich Community Revitalization Plan is an innovation space with the resources needed to bring product and startup ideas into fruition. This “makerspace” of sorts will allow visionaries to use technologies such as 3-D printers and computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and give them access to woodworking, software development, electronics, and food processing capabilities.
County takes stance against $15 minimum wage
The Chenango County Board of Supervisors is saying “No” to the proposition of raising the minimum wage in New York State. Members of the County Board passed an official resolution opposing a minimum wage increase, alleging that the benefits of a wage increase are “greatly offset by the negative consequences of same, especially in rural Upstate New York.” The state minimum wage, currently at $9 per hour, is proposed to go up to $15 per hour for fast-food chains in New York by 2021; but Governor Andrew Cuomo aims to raise wages to $15 an hour for all workers in New York City by 2018, and for the rest of the state by 2021. Despite good intentions of providing workers with livable wages and lifting New Yorkers out of poverty, the county board says that raising the minimum wage will have adverse affects that will push employers out of the region – and put people out of a job. According to studies cited in the County Board’s resolution, the labor market in New York would decrease by an estimated 200,000 to 432,000 jobs, with proportionately larger employment decreases in the upstate regions and eliminates the first job.
Sales tax down, property taxes up in Chenango
County sales tax revenues were down and property taxes were up in 2015, setting the stage for a tough financial year ahead, according to county administrators.
Recent reports from the New York State Tax Department show that sales tax revenue in Chenango County dropped by nearly one percent, or $200,000 over the last year. Despite early predications of a possible 1 percent sales tax revenue increase back in October, the months of November and December brought in less revenue that county officials had expected. Sales tax revenue in Chenango has struggled to bounce back since the economic downturn in 2008, according to County Treasurer William Craine. Any growth in recent years has been minimal – about one percent per year.
“We didn’t see the growth we hoped for at the end of the year. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the January and February reports,” said Craine. The State Tax Department report also shows surrounding counties in a similar situation, some down as much as six percent. Cortland, Broome, Delaware, and Otsego counties were all in the red by year’s end.
City Council refuses chicken vote
Notwithstanding requests from a few residents that chickens be allowed in the City of Norwich, the Norwich Common Council decided not to take the issue to a final vote on Tuesday.
According to Council members, a vote to change the city ordinance that currently restricts many homeowners from keeping fowl would be an inefficient use of time and resources, despite recent interest from city residents to have chickens on their property.
“I don't believe this is in the best interest of the city at this time,” said Ward One Alderman Matthew Caldwell, one of the three Council members who refused a vote. “I believe we have far more important things that we need to consume ourselves with.”
Caldwell was backed by aldermen Thomas LoPiccolo and David Zieno in the decision not to take the issue to a final vote. Third Ward Alderman John Deierlein wasn’t present at Tuesday’s Joint Committees meeting to weigh in.
New Norwich Mayor sworn in
NORWICH – Newly elected Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike takes the oath of office given by Norwich Judge James Downey at a swearing-in ceremony held at the city's Council Chambers on New Year's Day. Carnrike will oversee her first public meeting of the Common Council today, when council members convene for the annual organizational meeting at 6 p.m.
IRT-Greater Chenango Cares made rare return to Chenango
Take two of the 2015 summer installation of military vehicles, service personnel dressed in fatigues and scores of many appreciative community members took over the Norwich High School Campus during Greater Chenango Cares-Innovative Readiness Training (IRT).
Lead agency, Chenango United Way, spearheaded its own army of community volunteers to pull off yet another successful event that in 2015 performed nearly 15,000 procedures to some 2,400 patients at no cost – a value of more than $1.3 million.
“This was a great opportunity for our entire community in 2015, and we're pleased that the United Way was able to negotiate a contract for this to happen for a second year, right here in Chenango County,” said Victoria Mitchell of Chenango United Way in May. The military IRT is a Department of Defense (DOD) training exercise which provides real world training scenarios to military personnel and service members, all while supporting the needs of rural, under-served and economically challenged communities.
Drug Kingpin awaits retrial following judicial errors in County court
Michael A. Victor Jr, who was found guilty in Chenango County Court in 2010 on ten counts including narcotic sales and firearms possession, returned to Norwich to appear in court after being granted a retrial. As decided by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York on May 5, one of the ten counts was dismissed, and Victor is to receive a new trial on the remaining nine counts that he faced after his initial arrest in 2010. In mid October, it was reported that Victor's retrial was to be delayed into 2017 pending an expected response from the Court of Appeals. Judge James E. Downey, who presided over the case, conveyed that there was two separate issues to discuss during the conference; one being the status of the prosecution's appeal on the overturning of Victor's original conviction, which was sent to the court of appeals on June 30; the other being that defense counsel wishes to have $1,800 allocated in order to hire a private investigator.
Grace said that he has still not received the records of his clients trial from his previous counsel, and requested that if a new trial is going to take place, he would need at least 60 days in order to properly review all of the material. Until a response is received from the court of appeals, a decision on a new trial cannot be made.
Madison, Otsego Sheriff’s made swift work of Edmeston NBT Robbery
On May 23, the Otsego County 911 call center took an emergency call from an alarm monitoring system reporting a robbery at the NBT Bank, located at 1 West St. in the Village of Edmeston. A suspect originally described as a white male in his mid to late 20's, approximately 5'7'' to 5'10'' tall and of thin build was soon identified as Dennis D. Gelatt of Earlville. According to a release issued by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, it is alleged that Gelatt entered the bank and waited in line with other customers. When he got to the teller’s window, he demanded cash. No weapon was displayed, but authorities say one was “implied.”
When Gelatt obtained the cash, he fled the bank on foot, running to a parked vehicle on West Street. Gelatt then allegedly drove away from the bank heading west on Otsego County Highway 20. Following the robbery, the Unadilla Valley Central School was placed on lockdown. On June 5, the Otsego and Madison County Sheriff’s Offices executed a search warrant at a Madison County residence, arresting Gelatt. Gelatt was charged with robbery in the second degree, a class C felony. He was arraigned in the Town of Edmeston court and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $25,000 cash bail.
Roots and Wings program re-opens doors after lack of funding
Not even three months after closing to re-evaluate its business model, Roots and Wings of Chenango County has finally re-opened the doors of its clothing and household goods center.
Roots and Wings, a Norwich-based emergency services and self-sufficiency program operated under the auspices of Catholic Charities of Chenango County, closed its clothing center on Berry Street in January. Program organizers said the purpose was to restructure the program in a way that makes it more fiscally viable.
Roots and Wings provides clothing, food, household goods and furniture for individuals and families in need.
We want to be able to still reach out to our customers – the needy, and people who are low-income – so we’re keeping prices low,” said Mandeville. “People have been starting to come back just by word of mouth.” Catholic Charities started exploring the prospects of a thrift store model in November. Citing the tremendous financial burden fronted by Roots and Wings in recent years (despite a steady increase in community needs), Catholic Charities began researching various thrift store concepts. Catholic Charities Executive Director Robin Beckwith said at the time that Roots and Wings was losing a substantial amount of money that the organization simply couldn’t recoup.
Ramsaran murder conviction overturned
Ganesh 'Remy' Ramsaran – the man who was convicted of second-degree murder of his wife, Jennifer, back on Dec. 1, 2014 – saw his conviction reversed on Thursday after an appeal decision handed down by the Supreme Court, Appellate Division: Third Judicial Department.
Jennifer Ramsaran, the defendant's wife and the victim in the case, went missing on Dec. 11, 2012. She was last seen at her home in New Berlin that morning. The defendant reported her missing around 8 p.m. that evening after she failed to report home from a shopping trip in Syracuse.
An extensive search followed, and Jennifer's body was finally discovered down an embankment adjacent to Center Road in the Town of Pharsalia on Feb. 26, 2013. It was determined that the victim had been killed by unnatural causes some months prior, although an official cause of death was never determined.
Ramsaran was arrested for the murder of Jennifer on May 17, 2013. On May 24, 2013, he was indicted by a Chenango County grand jury on one count of second degree murder, a class A-1 felony, in connection with the alleged crime.
After a trial lasting just under three weeks, Ramsaran was found guilty of second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve a term of 25 years to life in prison.
During the trial, Ramsaran was represented by defense attorney Gilberto Garcia. In their decision to reverse the conviction, the Appellate Court did “find merit to (the) defendant's contention that certain errors rendered defense council ineffective, thereby depriving (the) defendant of a fair trial.”
DCMO-BOCES appoints new Superintendent
In May of 2016, new leadership has been placed at the helm of DCMO BOCES ending the district’s extensive seven-month search process for a new superintendent.
BOCES Board members voted and approved Perry Dewey III to the position of District Superintendent. Dewey will oversee BOCES’ contract operations across its 16 component school districts in Delaware, Chenango, Madison and Otsego counties.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve the DCMO BOCES region,” Dewey said in a statement on Friday. “Through strategically focusing on student needs and regional partnerships with business and post-secondary institutions, we will be able to provide a brighter future for our students and rural communities. With this in mind, I am looking forward to working with the leaders in the region to build relationships with all stakeholders and moving forward together to provide excellent educational programming for all of our students.”
Dewey is a native of Sherman, in Chautauqua County, and is certified in school district administration by the NYS Department of Education. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Bonaventure University and a bachelor’s in agriculture technology from Empire State College.
Dewey previously served as Superintendent of the Madison Central School District, a role he filled for nearly five years. During that time, the district implemented a strong strategic plan that fulfilled several educational initiatives, including a full-day pre-K program; and a college and career ready program which earned the district bronze level recognition from U.S. News and World Report.
Kurt Beyer flirts with chopping block—receives Band-Aid
While costly repairs are inevitable down the road, the Norwich Common Council reluctantly voted to make bare minimum fixes to the Kurt Beyer Pool that will keep the pool open for another season though 2016.
The fate of the public pool was still uncertain in the spring of 2016, when city officials were getting estimates for necessary repairs that approached $15,000 for a one-year fix. That number, however, has now been pared down to $10,000 which will cover costs to patch tile and grout, and to hire someone to maintain the pool throughout the summer.
Notwithstanding fears that the Kurt Beyer Pool in Norwich would be closed for the season, necessary repairs to the pool have finally been made and swimming was opened to the public on in mid-July. Plans for 2017 management of the pool remans to be seen.
Initial Sherburne Slaughterhouse deal scrapped, local developer renews interest
Earlier this year, it was revealed that All In Meats, Inc., the newly formed Utica-based enterprise behind the Sherburne slaughterhouse proposal, had hit financial barriers which prevented it from moving forward with the project. County Planning and Economic Development Committee received word that All In Meats CEO Donald Meeker is no longer being considered for the project, but that there may be news about a similar project on the horizon—and after months of planning and development, those initial plans of developing an industrial sized slaughterhouse in the Town of Sherburne are dead in the water – but not for long. In the early fall of 2016, it was announced that local developer and business owner Jim Webb had concocted a new startup with much the same vision at a neighboring plot on County Highway 23 in the Town of Sherburne, former home of Lok-N-Logs, Inc.
The newly proposed slaughterhouse project eyeing Sherburne brought standing-room-only crowds to several Sherburne Planning Board meetings, and some 700 Sherburne are residents (prompted by Residents United Against Industrial Slaughterhouses [RUAIS]) have signed petitions with hopes of derailing the company's—and Webb's— efforts to bring the plant to Chenango County. But despite the opposition, Webb and CNY Meats, LLC are moving forward with the appropriate zoning and regulatory agencies to bring the project into fruition.
NBT bids fond farewell to longtime leader
In 2016, NBT Bank close the book on one of its the most important chapters in the company’s 160-year history today, marking the retirement of a man who helped the organization reconnect with its community banking roots, ushering a path of continued growth and prosperity.
On May 3 following 28 dedicated years of exemplary service, Daryl R. Forsythe will competed his current term as Director and retire as Chairman of the NBT Bank and NBT Bancorp Boards.
“Daryl’s impact on NBT has been tremendous,” said NBT President and CEO Martin Dietrich. “During his tenure, the company has grown from a community bank with a local presence in central New York to one of the leading financial services organizations in the northeast at a time when the banking industry has faced many historic challenges. On behalf of all NBT directors, our nearly 1,800 employees and our retirees, I extend our deeply-felt gratitude and appreciation for the dedication, leadership and vision Daryl has provided.”
Chobani extends parental paid leave policy
Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Chobani Hamdi Ulukaya stopped in to their plant in New Berlin on Wednesday morning to make two announcements directly to the employees of Chobani.
About 200 workers from the New Berlin and Norwich plants were present for the announcements where Ulukaya introduced a new extended parental paid leave policy for employees of Chobani.
Beginning on January 1, 2017, all full-time employees, mothers and fathers alike, will receive six weeks of 100 percent paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
“The most critical and valuable investment we can give our children for their future is the time we spend with them. Nothing else,” Ulukaya said during his address to the company. “They don't care how you live, how much money you have, what kind of car you drive, or what you look like. It doesn't matter. What matters the most is this human connection between parent and child. And it would be the saddest thing to not be with them because you have to go to work. And that stops now.”
“How do you go and still work when you have a new baby at home? It's just impossible. I had no idea about this until I had this baby. This is the most beautiful thing you can have in the whole universe, so how do you go to work?” Ulukaya said. “We will cherish this, so you do the same thing. I encourage every one of you to take advantage of this. We love when you care about your family, because in the end, we are all family here.”
Ulukaya went on to say that he doesn't believe that this is an act of giving, rather an acknowledgment of the need, and a call to action to make it right. “It is inhumane not to have it,” he said. “It's not right to have it in some office places, but not in the factory. We will inspire others to do it too.”
Tom Libous passes away
Former State Senator Tom Libous, once a powerhouse in the state capital, lost his seven-year battle with prostate cancer, announced former staff member Emmanuel Priest in May of 2016.
Libous was a leading member of the New York State Republican party, having served 14 terms as a representative of the state’s 52nd Senate District. His political influence spanned the course of three decades, starting in 1984 when he was elected to represent Binghamton’s south side on the Binghamton City Council. He was re-elected to that position in 1987. Regarded for his ability to connect with people throughout the Southern Tier, Libous was elected to the New York Senate in 1988 – a post he held until 2015.
“He certainly was a friend of the Southern Tier,” said Lawrence Wilcox, chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors. “He was always available and responsive to our needs here in Chenango County as well as the other counties that he represented.”
Libous announced that he was being treated for prostate cancer in 2009. By 2012, the disease had reportedly spread to his lungs. Sources say he had entered Hospice care in Endicott merely a week before his passing.
Dogs chained in woods, man issued appearance ticket
Seven Pit Bulls have been rescued and are said to be doing well after a Johnson City man was ticketed for animal cruelty charges. Anthony Thompson now faced the misdemeanor charge of overdriving, torturing, or injuring an animal; essentially Thompson is said to have failed to provide adequate water, shelter or food for the seven dogs who were recovered on the property. After obtaining a warrant, members of the CCSO along with Matt Bates, The North Norwich Dog Control Officer returned to the property. Bates and the Sheriff’s Deputies at the scene found the dogs down in the wooded area behind the residence. Allegedly the seven dogs were all chained with short logging chains with significant signs of the dogs being involved in dog fighting. All seven of the dogs have been transported to a local veterinarian and are doing much better than previously. Thompson was charged and cited with appearance ticket for these alleged crimes, and is set to appear in court at a later date.
”Road Raged” Guzy convicted of murder
The matter of the People vs. John M. Guzy found Guzy guilty for the killing of Derek D. Prindle and seriously injuring his Father Derek S. Prindle in a parking lot in Bainbridge. Judge Revoir sentenced Guzy to serve 40 years to life on the top two charges he was facing; Murder in the second degree, a class A-1 felony; and attempted murder in the second degree, a class B felony. In addition to the top two charges, Guzy was also found guilty on felony counts of first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. He also was convicted of driving while intoxicated and six counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors. These sentences will all run concurrently with the top two convictions.
Young girls raise more than $2k for Chenango Health Network
In June, three young girls set up a temporary tattoo stand in hopes to raise money for the Chenango Health Network. This program helps Chenango County women who are diagnosed with breast cancer gynecological cancer and cannot afford treatment. Madison Murphy, 8, Julia Lein, 4, and Josslyn Lein, 3 were very excited to participate in the fundraiser and be able to help those in the community. Tattoos ranged from princesses, superheroes, phrases, stars, and various other choices, including pink ribbons.The girls raised $2,321 for the Chenango Health Network’s financial assistance program.The three were presented with a plaque of thanks from the Chenango Health Network, as well as other tokens of appreciation.
‘America’s Best Communities’ loss triggers ‘StartUp Norwich’ initiative
A nine-month endeavor to be named “America’s Best Community” came to an end this week upon news that Norwich will not move on in a privately funded, multi-million dollar competition. The America’s Best Community contest is aimed to spurr the economy of small communities. Frontier, in partnerships with Dish Network, CoBank, and the Weather Channel, put up $10 million for the competition which the company says will provide a wealth of creative ideas about how to revitalize small towns and rural communities. The America’s Best Communities pannel announced that Norwich falls short in its implementation plan, making it ineligible for the $100,000 prize that’s awarded in the semi-finalist and finalist rounds of the competition. The initial project in the Greater Norwich Community Revitalization Plan is an innovation space with the resources needed to bring product and startup ideas into fruition. This “makerspace” of sorts will allow visionaries to use technologies such as 3-D printers and computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and give them access to woodworking, software development, electronics, and food processing capabilities.
County takes stance against $15 minimum wage
The Chenango County Board of Supervisors is saying “No” to the proposition of raising the minimum wage in New York State. Members of the County Board passed an official resolution opposing a minimum wage increase, alleging that the benefits of a wage increase are “greatly offset by the negative consequences of same, especially in rural Upstate New York.” The state minimum wage, currently at $9 per hour, is proposed to go up to $15 per hour for fast-food chains in New York by 2021; but Governor Andrew Cuomo aims to raise wages to $15 an hour for all workers in New York City by 2018, and for the rest of the state by 2021. Despite good intentions of providing workers with livable wages and lifting New Yorkers out of poverty, the county board says that raising the minimum wage will have adverse affects that will push employers out of the region – and put people out of a job. According to studies cited in the County Board’s resolution, the labor market in New York would decrease by an estimated 200,000 to 432,000 jobs, with proportionately larger employment decreases in the upstate regions and eliminates the first job.
Sales tax down, property taxes up in Chenango
County sales tax revenues were down and property taxes were up in 2015, setting the stage for a tough financial year ahead, according to county administrators.
Recent reports from the New York State Tax Department show that sales tax revenue in Chenango County dropped by nearly one percent, or $200,000 over the last year. Despite early predications of a possible 1 percent sales tax revenue increase back in October, the months of November and December brought in less revenue that county officials had expected. Sales tax revenue in Chenango has struggled to bounce back since the economic downturn in 2008, according to County Treasurer William Craine. Any growth in recent years has been minimal – about one percent per year.
“We didn’t see the growth we hoped for at the end of the year. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the January and February reports,” said Craine. The State Tax Department report also shows surrounding counties in a similar situation, some down as much as six percent. Cortland, Broome, Delaware, and Otsego counties were all in the red by year’s end.
City Council refuses chicken vote
Notwithstanding requests from a few residents that chickens be allowed in the City of Norwich, the Norwich Common Council decided not to take the issue to a final vote on Tuesday.
According to Council members, a vote to change the city ordinance that currently restricts many homeowners from keeping fowl would be an inefficient use of time and resources, despite recent interest from city residents to have chickens on their property.
“I don't believe this is in the best interest of the city at this time,” said Ward One Alderman Matthew Caldwell, one of the three Council members who refused a vote. “I believe we have far more important things that we need to consume ourselves with.”
Caldwell was backed by aldermen Thomas LoPiccolo and David Zieno in the decision not to take the issue to a final vote. Third Ward Alderman John Deierlein wasn’t present at Tuesday’s Joint Committees meeting to weigh in.
New Norwich Mayor sworn in
NORWICH – Newly elected Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike takes the oath of office given by Norwich Judge James Downey at a swearing-in ceremony held at the city's Council Chambers on New Year's Day. Carnrike will oversee her first public meeting of the Common Council today, when council members convene for the annual organizational meeting at 6 p.m.
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