A local arts organization announced at the end of 2020 that it has matched a major grant and can move forward on revitalization plans.

 ALBANY —With the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program facing criticism, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday blamed the rocky rollout of his administration’s inoculation initiative on the federal government.

U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, met with Otsego County Treasurer Allen Ruffles and Otsego County Health Director Heidi Bond on Thursday, Jan. 14, to discuss vaccinations and Otsego County’s need for federal COVID-19 relief.

Osego County’s Board of Representatives will consider a resolution asking state officials to focus on promoting a coronavirus vaccine and encouraging its residents to get vaccinated.

 ALBANY — Leaders of New York’s local governments, facing sharp revenue declines as a result of the shutdown of portions of the state’s economy last year, are infused with fresh optimism now that a familiar face is about to ascend to one of the federal government’s most influential legislati…

May 2, 2018, in the aftermath of a new state law which required public officials to sign their oaths of office within 30 days of being sworn in or forfeit their seats, Otsego County Rep. Daniel Wilber watched as his seat was declared vacant. 

 A petition to make Otsego County a sanctuary from gun laws was withdrawn from consideration last week, after concerns about its intent and language stalled it in committee.

 ALBANY — New Yorkers at least 75 year of age, school teachers, police officers and others in jobs that put them at risk in the pandemic can schedule appointments to get COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Monday, state officials said Friday.

 The Otsego County Board of Representatives re-elected its leaders Wednesday, Jan. 6, but not without some beginning-of-the-year political drama.

 State Senator Peter Oberacker, R–Schenevus, announced his committee assignments for the 2021-22 legislative session on Thursday, Jan. 7.

 The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual State of the State town hall forum virtually Tuesday, Jan. 5, featuring U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, as the keynote speaker.

The last time James Seward’s hometown of Oneonta was represented in the New York State Senate by someone other than him, Ronald Reagan was president.

Patricia Szarpa will retire as the executive director of the Otsego Land Trust in February 2021, according to a media release from the group’s Board of Directors.

The Bassett Birthing Center at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown welcomed the first baby of 2021 at 9:31 a.m. New Year’s Day, according to a media release.

A freshman state legislator has begun his career replacing a longtime area politician who retired.

New York hospitals provided with the COVID-19 vaccine were given an ultimatum Monday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Use the doses within seven days or lose them.

Planning is underway to expand the playground in the village of Cherry Valley.

The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have reached the region.

Oneonta and Otsego County said goodbye to departing Otsego County Chamber of Commerce leader Barbara Ann Heegan during a surprise Zoom party Wednesday, Dec. 23.

MILFORD — Locally renowned holiday decorator Jeff Van Winkler didn’t let suspected vandalism to his handmade decorations stop his holiday spirit from lighting up the neighborhood.

Officials locally and statewide praised former Assemblyman William (Bill) Magee, who died Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24. 

The village of Cooperstown has mostly finished its community review of policing standards and will share its findings with the public early in 2021, according to Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh. 

The Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank has approved a buyer for its property at 20 Lake St. in Richfield Springs, completing the organization’s first project in Otsego County. 

Cooperstown student-athletes recently donated dozens of new shoes in time for the holiday season.

 A proposal to make Otsego County a “sanctuary” against laws that regulate guns got shelved again Thursday, Dec. 10.

The president and CEO of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce will leave her office later this month.

Big changes, including staff cuts, are coming to the Bassett Healthcare Network.

 Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin Jr. told Otsego County officials Thursday, Dec. 10, that his problems with jail medical issues won’t end with filling a couple of nursing positions and overall problems with staffing are hurting morale.

With local coronavirus cases rising dramatically this month, Otsego County’s Board of Representatives unanimously approved two late resolutions Monday, Dec. 14, to allow the county’s Department of Health to hire three temporary nurses to help with contract tracing. 

Otsego County's Board of Representatives unanimously approved a $2.1 million energy upgrade plan that had been delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic at its end-of-the-year meeting Monday, Dec. 14.

SUNY Oneonta’s reopening plan for the spring semester is a “living document” that will evolve based on feedback and the ever-changing nature of the coronavirus pandemic, Interim President Dennis Craig told the Otsego County Board of Representatives at its meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Otsego County will take steps to staff hard-to-fill nurse positions in the Otsego County jail in the town of Middlefield.

Otsego County’s version of the state-mandated municipal police review has gone “very well,” according to Rep. Dave Bliss. 

ALBANY — A second lockdown of New York’s non-essential businesses will be imposed if hospitals face a shortage of beds due to rising COVID admissions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Monday.

The first of three teenagers charged in connection with a murder, robbery and attempted arson last fall pleaded guilty Monday, Nov. 23, in Otsego County Court after accepting a plea bargain.

The Arc Otsego has announced that Karen Sullivan of the Otsego County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling was awarded the Lifetime Recycling Leadership Award, given each year by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties has kicked off a first phase of its Grow with Cornell Cooperative Extension fundraising campaign, to redevelop the grounds of its Education and Resource Center at 123 Lake St. in Cooperstown. The grounds will be developed into a …