http://www.thedailystar.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:59 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040006.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040006.html A local congressman called for reform to ensure affordable health care during his first telephone ``town hall'' meeting Wednesday.Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-NY, spoke to constituents in a session arranged by AARP, which is lobbying for health care reform with a focus on coverage for older Americans.At its peak, more than 6,600 listeners were on the line. During the half-hour teleconference, three constituents were connected with Arcuri through the toll-free number. Of the three callers, one was able to speak with the congressman; the other two calls were lost. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:58 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040012.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040012.html A Middleburgh man was chosen by President Barack Obama's administration to serve as the state director of the Farm Service Agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a media release from the USDA. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040022.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040022.html The Otsego County Fireman's Convention and a carnival are set for next week in Schenevus, an official said Wednesday. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:55 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040024.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040024.html A Worcester man was arrested on felony charges Tuesday for allegedly scamming area residents out of about $3,000 over the last year. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:53 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040029.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040029.html Delaware County Emergency Services needs a new communication system, but the proposed $25 million price tag is not acceptable, county Chairman James Eisel said Wednesday. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:52 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040032.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040032.html The Oneonta City School District Board of Education re-elected Grace Larkin as president and Susan Hughson as vice president during its reorganizational meeting Wednesday for the 2009-10 academic year. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040027.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040027.html DELHI _ Some sipped, others guzzled, but when the drinking was done, Sidney's water splashed its way to a first-place finish. Forty-four people volunteered to judge water Wednesday at the 23nd annual Best Tasting Water in New York State contest, held at the Delhi Farmers' Market in Courthouse Square. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040019.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_190040019.html WEST ONEONTA _ A bolt from the blue inspired owners of a local baseball camp to replicate a "magic" bat. When lightning struck a 120-foot-tall spruce tree on July 2 at the Cooperstown All-Star Village, it blew out the bark and backside of the tree, said Cooperstown All-Star Village owner Martin Patton, who owns the business with his wife, Brenda. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:59 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040034.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040034.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:57 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040044.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040044.html For the first time in 35 years, a passenger train will pull into the heart of Cooperstown on Saturday in honor of the 140th anniversary of the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad, organizers said. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:56 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040047.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040047.html A retired physics professor who avows a love of painting has taken the grand prize in a Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts show. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:55 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040053.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040053.html ONEONTA _ City aldermen and the mayor sparred Tuesday night over a plan to outsource the study of fire-department overtime.A motion during Tuesday night's Common Council meeting to amend a previously existing contract with Bollam, Sheedy, Torani and Co. of Albany to include $12,400 to study the department's overtime later failed.The auditors suggested the city expand the contract to include the study after they noticed overtime had doubled since 2007, according to city Personnel Director Kathy Wolverton and Mayor John Nader. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:54 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040055.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040055.html Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital's performance in hip surgeries had a rate of site infections ``significantly higher'' than the state average last year, a recently released report said.But the incidences were noted, and corrective measures reduced this year's rate to date, officials at Bassett in Cooperstown said Monday.The state Health Department's second annual Hospital-Acquired Infections report for 2008 said New York hospitals have lower rates of surgical-site infections than the rest of the nation. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:53 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040057.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040057.html Tall Pines Campground, Canoeing, and Country Store in Bainbridge will open Chippy's Family Fun Center on Saturday, according to a media release. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:52 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040105.html http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_189040105.html About 10,000 walleye fingerlings were released Monday into Otsego Lake at Three Mile Point in the village of Cooperstown, according to a member of an agency involved with effort.The Otsego County Conservation Association provided $6,000 this year to support the efforts of the State University College at Oneonta's Biological Field Station, said OCCA assistant director Teresa Winchester. About 40,000 walleye fingerlings will be released this summer at several locations in the lake, according to a release from OCCA.