At Colorscape 2018. Frank Speziale Photo

As we fall into the New Year, we take a look at some of the stories that captivated us throughout 2018.

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Cuomo appoints Justice Garry as presiding justice of third department

Published January 9

CHENANGO COUNTY – On January 1, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the appointment of local Justice Elizabeth Garry as presiding justice of the Third Department of the Appellate Division.

Justice Garry’s appointment is the first time a justice from the sixth judicial district – comprising 10 counties, including Chenango – has been presiding justice of the Third Department since Justice James P. Hill, of the Town of German, retired from the position in 1948. She is also the first Democrat to hold the position.

As presiding justice, Justice Garry will be charged with the oversight of the Third Department – comprising 28 counties – including the role as the top administrative judge for the third, fourth, and sixth judicial districts.

“I have the opportunity to do the best work of my life right now, I can’t be more positive than I am about that,” said Justice Garry. “It’s with good people, and we get to serve the people. It’s good government––I get to be a part of that.”

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Head of New York Open Government tells Norwich Town Hall people have a right to know

Published April 24

NORWICH – Department of State Committee on Open Government Executive Director Robert Freeman visited Norwich Town Hall Monday evening, where he offered his expertise to the public in relation to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the Open Meetings Law.

About 30 people – both public officials and community members – attended the event as Freeman offered advice to anyone who requested clarification on the two laws, and described the duties of the Committee on Open Government.

“What I want to leave you with tonight is the general notion that the two laws we’re talking about are based primarily on reasonableness and common sense,” Freeman said. “All they really say, all they should ever say, in my opinion, is that everything is open except to the extent that disclosure would hurt, significantly, either somebody in terms of an invasion of privacy, the government in terms of its ability to do its job well on behalf of the public, or sometimes a private company in relation to its competition.”

The Committee on Open Government issues opinions to New Yorkers who have questions about the legality of government. Although it can’t force compliance, Freeman said he still likes to think it has a degree of influence. “The whole idea of the issuance of an opinion, whether it be verbally or in writing, is to number one educate, number two persuade, and number three encourage compliance.”

Still, Freeman said, “There are lots of ways to avoid accountability. That’s the reality of it.”

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Bartle’s Pharmacy recognized as 2018 Health Mart pharmacy of the year

Published June 27

OXFORD – In recognition of its innovative care to patients and longstanding commitment to community, Bartle’s Pharmacy has been selected as the 2018 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year over nearly 5,000 other pharmacies across all 50 states in the country.

Daughter of Brian and Linda, Heather Bartle Ferrarese said the pharmacy learned of its achievement at the end of May.

“It was very overwhelming, very humbling. I thought they made a mistake,” laughed Heather. “It’s just great to see my mom and dad recognized for all their years that they’ve worked really hard to build this business and be a part of the community and always strive to do the right thing.”

Asked what amenities the pharmacy offers that may have helped it receive the recognition, Heather discussed the pharmacy’s heavy involvement in the medical synchronization program, where staff coordinates patients’ medications so they only have to pick them up once a month, as well as focusing on adhering and compliance with its patients as an independent pharmacy.

Heather went on to commend the staff at Bartle’s Pharmacy for helping it receive such an award.

“I have the best team,” said Heather. “We would not be where we are without our team. I cannot say enough good things about them, they in their own way and in their own role have really brought us to the next level.”

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Chenango’s got the blues: 26th Blues Fest is in the books

Published August 20

NORWICH – The 26th annual Chenango County Blues Festival this weekend was pitch perfect as the rainy weather held off for a dozen nationally acclaimed blues acts and 3,000 dancing attendees at the Chenango County Fairgrounds.

Chenango Blues Association President Eric Larsen said this year’s blues festival was a great success from the perspectives of the attendees, the artists, and event organizers.

Larsen said, “I think people really recognize this is a different vibe than most concerts now; big profit-making ventures. We have a little bit more of a hometown feel to it.

“I got great comments from the artists, they really love it,” continued Larsen. “They kind of get the vibe of it, they love seeing all the families out there. We’ve got really high production values and national acts but you get to see them in a kind of environment and atmosphere that I think fans and artists – all people, really – enjoy. It’s a little more intimate.”

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Premier art magazine ranks Colorscape among best shows in nation

Published August 29

NORWICH – With less than two weeks remaining until the 24th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival, the Norwich based festival announced it has been ranked as one of Sunshine Artist magazine’s 200 Best shows of 2018 ahead of thousands of other shows in the country.

Dubbed “America’s Premier Art & Craft Show Magazine,” Sunshine Artist magazine ranked Colorscape as the 92nd Best Fine Art & Design Show ahead of thousands in the nation and among only three other shows in New York State based on participating artists’ surveys.

Colorscape Executive Director Celeste Friend said, “From the point of view of the artist, this is the list that artists look at to figure out, ‘Where are the best shows in the country?’ This is going to help us draw even better artists than we’ve already had.”

With Colorscape featured in Sunshine Artist magazine’s 200 Best of 2018, organizers are anticipating more, high-quality artists will apply to take part in next year’s festival, which will be Colorscape’s 25th and silver anniversary.

In the long run, the recognition could mean a long and healthy future for Colorscape Chenango.

“Better art means more buyers,” said Friend. “More buyers means better artists.”

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Harvesting Happiness: 20 years of Norwich Pumpkin Festivals

Published October 25

NORWICH – After Shirley Proskine read about a Pumpkin Festival in Keene, NH where thousands of people flock and thousands more jack-o-lanterns are suspended from scaffoldings, her daughter Michelle Lorimer and a small group of Norwich residents decided to travel to the festival to see what all the fuss was about.

“We decided to try one in ‘99 so we’d have it set in the year 2000,” said Marilyn Oliver, Lorimer’s sister and one of the founding members of the Norwich Pumpkin Festival. “That’s why we started in ‘99.”

Today the Norwich Pumpkin Festival is still organized by the same core group of people, give or take a few. Lorimer was a founder and event volunteer from the first Norwich Pumpkin Festival in 1999 until 2008, when her husband Joe passed away. Gary Brightman remains the Norwich Pumpkin Festival President, Oliver the Vice President, in addition to a few other founders still on board and some newcomers.

But 20 years of organizing takes a toll, and the founding members have announced this will be their last year of organizing the Norwich Pumpkin Festival. Their hope is for another organization or non-profit to step to the plate so that the Norwich Pumpkin Festival, or some version of it, continues for years to come, offering local families a free weekend every October of getting into the Halloween spirit.

“If there is an organization that is willing to go forward with it, they just need to submit a proposal to the pumpkin festival and we will go over it and meet with them,” said Oliver. “And maybe it won’t be the end, but it’ll be the end of an era for most of us doing it for 20 years. And maybe it’ll be something new and exciting.”

Regardless, organizers are proud of the 20 years of pumpkin festivals brought to downtown Norwich.

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McBride wins State Supreme Court Justice of the 6th Judicial District

Published November 7

NEW YORK STATE – Chenango County District Attorney Joe McBride (R) will be the next State Supreme Court Justice of the Sixth Judicial District after receiving 51.1 percent of votes, beating Cortland City Court Judge Elizabeth Burns with 48.9 percent.

In Chenango County McBride received 70.94 percent of votes to Burns’ 28.97 percent.

In a statement Justice-elect McBride said, “I’m honored to have earned the trust of the voters of Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins Counties. You have my promise that I won’t let you down as your new State Supreme Court Judge. I will work hard every day to ensure that justice is delivered fairly and impartially.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of those who helped on this year’s campaign. I am truly humbled and grateful for your support.”

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Brindisi clinches victory over Tenney

Published November 21

CHENANGO COUNTY – Two weeks after Election Day the 22nd Congressional race has come to a close now that Anthony Brindisi’s lead over Claudia Tenney outnumbers the remaining absentee votes to be counted.

Tuesday evening Brindisi released the statement, “As I said on Election night, I’ll work to be a representative for our entire community. I’m humbled that I’ll have the honor to represent this district in Congress. Now that this campaign is behind us, I look forward to a smooth transition with Congresswoman Tenney to ensure that we hit the ground running in January.”

Chenango County Board of Elections finished counting its absentee ballots on Tuesday, resulting in Brindisi picking up 647 absentee votes to Tenney’s 525. Still, Tenney beat Brindisi in Chenango County, unofficially receiving 9,280 votes to Brindisi’s 7,450.

District wide, Brindisi led Tenney 125,925 to 121,957 at the end of the day Tuesday.

Brindisi clinching the victory marks the end of an eventful race between the two candidates, which included two debates, a number of campaign ads against one another, and a judge ordering an impoundment of all Election Day material from Nov. 9 to Nov. 14.

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Suspected drug dealer jumps through window to escape police raid

Published December 18

NORWICH – Law enforcement executed a no-knock search warrant in the City of Norwich yesterday morning that lead to the seizure of narcotics, a handgun, and over $35,000 cash after a two month long investigation. Court records show one of the individuals charged has previously been convicted of similar crimes in Chenango County.

The investigation was a joint operation between the Norwich Police Department, Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, and New York State Police.

Corey A. Weidman, 34, and Cheyanne D. Moore, 22, both of 93 East Main Street Apartment 1F in Norwich, have been charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of a firearm, after police conducted a search of their apartment.

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UV school building project vote passes

Published December 14