Dr. Kai Mebust has been appointed chief of the Department of Medicine at Bassett Medical Center.

COOPERSTOWN — Otsego County’s help wanted listing for a county administrator will go live Monday, March 2, according to information presented at the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee’s governance meeting Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 197 Main St. 

EDMESTON — An overflow crowd spent President’s Day hearing about local soldiers who served in the Civil War at a special presentation by the Edmeston Museum. 

During the two decades Cooperstown Graduate Program Director Gretchen Sorin worked on her book, “Driving While Black,” she said she knew she was writing about an American story. However, she said she didn’t realize for a long time she was also writing about her family’s story. 

COOPERSTOWN — Area law enforcement officials, prosecutors, Republican legislators and others expressed concerns about New York state’s recently enacted criminal justice overhaul at the Otsego County Correctional Facility on Thursday, Feb. 6.

 Steve Greenfield of New Paltz announced he is running as a Green Party candidate in the race for the state’s 19th Congressional District on Monday, Feb. 10.

COOPERSTOWN — The hot stove beat out the cold weather for Friends of Doubleday Field last weekend.

COOPERSTOWN — More than 50 students and their families packed Red Bursey Gymnasium on Sunday, Feb. 9, to sell their homemade crafts, wares and snacks at the 11th annual TREP$ marketplace.

 The state ban on plastic bags for most commercial uses will go into effect Sunday, March 1, and like most counties in New York, Otsego County will not opt in on an accompanying 5 cent fee on paper bags.

An Otsego County legislator has announced his intent to seek the Republican nomination for the 51st Senate District. The seat is held by Sen. James Seward, who will retire at the end of the year.

The 53rd annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival will bring the Roaring ’20s into the village, Friday, Feb. 7, through Sunday, Feb. 8. 

 COOPERSTOWN — National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Tim Mead discussed the filming of the movie, “Angels in the Outfield,” as part of The Film Society of Cooperstown’s screening of the 1994 remake Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the Cooperstown Village Ballroom at 22 Main St.

ONEONTA — The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce hosted a convergence of local, state and federal elected officials representing Otsego County for its annual State of the State luncheon at SUNY Oneonta on Friday, Jan. 24.

After running unsuccessfully for the 101st Assembly District in 2018, Chad McEvoy announced last week that he will try again.

 Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh will not have a Republican challenger in the March village elections, but the GOP has nominated a candidate for one of two open Board of Trustee positions.

With the recent National Baseball Hall of Fame election announcements, area hotels and motels are getting more calls than usual for Hall of Fame weekend in July, according to the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce.

 COOPERSTOWN — A 143-space parking lot for Bassett Medical Center employees cleared one hurdle Monday, Jan. 27, when the village Board of Trustees heard public comment on the plan and completed an environmental review.

 Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, announced Monday that he will not seek re-election at the end of his term.

HYDE PARK — For the past 10 weeks, three local students have dedicated each morning before school to help out the animals of the Susquehanna SPCA.

 Otsego County has launched a specialized court that addresses the unique challenges presented by opioid addiction.

 ALBANY — As state officials blocked dozens of police agencies from state motor vehicle records in a showdown over immigration policy, upstate sheriffs predicted the restrictions will jeopardize public safety.

Renovations and repairs at the Otsego County Jail are expected to wrap up next month, according to Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin Jr.

COOPERSTOWN — Oneonta residents Dylan Robinson and Nicolas Meridy, indicted for their alleged involvement in the October death of Worcester resident Kenneth Robinson, were offered plea bargains Monday, Jan. 13 in Otsego County Court.

 ONEONTA — Producers of a World War II-era movie set to be filmed in Otsego County were seeking actors, extras and crew members to assist with production this week.

The Cabin Fever Film Series at the Fenimore Art Museum will begin Friday, Jan. 17, with the 2019 biopic about Elton John, “Rocketman.” 

Signs at the Otsego County Department of Motor Vehicles office in Oneonta, mentioning a state law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers licenses and learning permits, were moved after criticism that they were placed next to signs bearing the phone number of a “tip line” for I…

Dave Bliss will continue to serve as the chair of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, and Mount Vision farmer Meg Kennedy has been named to replace Gary Koutnik as vice chair.

 Bassett Medical Center President William LeCates was recently selected to serve as the top medical adviser for the New York Army National Guard.

The Alexis P. Suter Band will make an encore performance for the Cooperstown Concert Series with a show at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown. 

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Film Society of Cooperstown will begin its third season Wednesday, Jan. 15, with “Yesterday,” a 2019 romantic comedy.

Shiann Bellinger, 22, of Cobleskill, said giving birth to her daughter on Christmas day at Bassett Medical Center added significance to the holiday.

Betsy Jay, Bassett Medical Center’s chaplain for more than 12 years, will retire Tuesday.

For nearly 15 years, a Milford resident has been drawing people near and far to his home with a mesmerizing display of lights, cutouts and holiday inflatables. 

The sentencing for Justin Hobbie, the former Cooperstown teacher who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges, has been rescheduled.

State Sen. James L. Seward, R-Milford, in a Thursday, Dec. 19, media release announced $323.6 million was awarded to the four regions of the state he represents as part of the ninth round of the state’s Regional Economic Development Council awards.

The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown has announced its 2020 exhibit schedule. 

Attendance was low, but spirits remained high during the annual Candlelight Evening at the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The end of 2019 will also mean the end of the exhibit season at Fenimore Art Museum near Cooperstown in the town of Otsego.