T Tri-Town T ews www.tritownnews.com VOL. 152 - NO. 32 NSidNey, New yOrk — friday, auguSt 10, 2018 SuggeSted price 75¢ Franklin Stage Company Ag Know-How Takes Root Roaring ‘20s Return to Presents ‘Doubt’ After Sidney Students Gilbertsville Saturday Page 5 Tour Local Farms Page 9 Page 8 Unatego BOE Votes in Ag Startup; Kills Kildonan Bid for Otego Elementary By allison collins school building in Otego. demand for the crops that we in addition to the indoor grow.” dutcher noted that ag- OTEGO – roughly 65 peo- agriculture operation, agZeit Zeit’s first crops will be a va- ple attended a two-hour unat- envisions residential living riety of leafy greens. ego Board of education meet- spaces for recently separated the district’s fourth pro- ing Monday to hear members military veterans, a training posal, submitted by construc- decide the fate of the former center for veterans and other tion management firm two Otego elementary building. adult learners, a rural health plus four, was withdrawn in a four-to-two vote, board center and a year-round farm- three days before the vote. members determined sale of ers’ market. according to posts made to the building would go to ag- they anticipate an initial the district website and social Zeit, an endicott-based indoor investment of over $3.7 mil- media, the firm cited “other organic farming startup, over lion and a total five-year in- obligations” via written cor- the dyslexia school, kildonan. vestment … of $55.6 million.” respondence as its reason for Board members Byron agZeit CEO and founder withdrawing. two plus four’s McMichael, cindy O’Hara, James dutcher said wednes- proposal was for affordable president James Salisbury day that he was “extremely senior housing, an option sev- and david clapper voted in thrilled” with the board’s eral members of the board la- favor of agZeit, while rich- decision. mented as a “first choice” for ard downey and ken Olsen “we’re excited for the op- the district. suported kildonan. Board portunity,” he said, “and look- the board’s vote followed member Jay Mcdermott was ing forward to making things a 35-minute public comment district, while agZeit’s en- school students couldn’t ben- agZeit proponents said sale not present. a success in Otsego county.” portion, during which mem- From left, Unatego Superintendent Dr. David Richards, board members Cindy agZeit’s proposal included dutcher said the public’s bers of the audience voiced O’Hara and Ken Olsen and clerk Joan French hear commentary from Kimberly a purchase price of $300,000 concerns with agZeit’s rela- contrasting opinions of the More during Monday’s meeting. More represented the Leatherstocking Dyslexia for the building, previously tive newness are “totally two proposals. Board mem- Center, would-be partner of Kildonan School. appraised at $250,000. a third understandable.” bers, too, pointed out “weak- proposal from LPP Manage- “None of the proposals nesses” inherent to both ment in South New Berlin were without their respective proposals. a memorandum, went largely undiscussed. risks,” he said. “However, in signed by 72 Otego residents in a post made tuesday, regards to what we do, i can in favor of agZeit, was read at dicott site has only been op- efit from kildonan’s services, to a for-profit entity would get the district stated: “agZeit definitely say … we’ve prov- this time. erational for a year and lacks and questioned the school’s the Otego building back on and Valuag, LLc plan on ex- en that our indoor growing those supporting kildonan credibility. capacity to benefit the wider village tax rolls for the first panding their existing indoor methodology and technology School said the nonprofit champions of the indoor community. additionally, time in 87 years. agriculture business, in opera- do work and work extremely showed decades of solvency farming venture said, with- Unatego Contunied tion in endicott, at the former well and that there is a high and offered “cachet” to the out state accreditation (which is pending), in-district public Page 2 Sidney Law Enforcement Supports Special Olympics with ‘Cops on Top’ Sidney’s Roma ‘Ronnie’ Haag By allison collins the Valley ridge center for ing to make the fundraiser a intensive treatment and four success. had Huge Impact SIDNEY – Members of Special Olympics athletes. “we would just like to SIDNEY – Longtime lessons in the early 1970s, local law enforcement rose despite the wet weather thank everyone who donated Sidney resident Roma becoming an A.R.I.C.P. early last friday, in time to and early-morning call time, this year,” he said, “and we “Ronnie” Haag, 87, passed Certified Instructor in 1985. fundraise alongside Special gorshack said, the event is an are making plans for next year away peacefully on Monday, In 1977, Ronnie was Olympics athletes from 6 to 11 easy one to get behind. already.” July 30, 2018 after a two- approached to join The a.m. at the Sidney Speedway. “How can you say no? it’s fall training clubs for pro- month battle with cancer. Hospital Board of Trustees. even friday’s wet weather for a great cause and it was so spective Special Olympics Roma was born on June 7, Two years later, she became couldn’t put a damper on the much fun,” he said. “it’s not athletes ages 8 and up are 1931 in Flushing, daughter president, an office she groups’ efforts, Sidney police even work.” forming. of the late Generoso held for 17 years. She had chief Jan gorshack said, as gorshack credited the tri- for information or to do- “George” Petrone and Lilli the distinction of being the the “cops on top” initiative town community with help- nate, visit nyso.org. Drews. Following high longest-serving trustee on raised $3,359 locally. school, Ronnie received her the board. cops on top, in its seventh associate’s degree in nursing Ronnie had a relentless year, is an offshoot of the Law from Flushing Hospital in passion for helping all young enforcement torch run, be- Queens in 1951. people. She volunteered as a gun in 1981 in kansas. On June 8, 1952, she leader and senior leader with Members of Sidney law married Raymond C. Haag the Girl Scouts for more Recently, Ronnie was the enforcement have been par- at St. John’s Lutheran than 20 years and was also leading force behind the ticipating in the annual fund- Church in Williston Park, involved in 4-H. In 1985, creation of the Sidney Area raiser since 2016. Last year, Long Island. Their family she helped form the Youth Youth Advocacy Program gorshack said, at $3,000-plus, moved to Sidney in the Advocate Program, which following the suicide of a Sidney raised the second- summer of 1963. Ronnie led to the creation of the Tri- young girl. She was also highest amount statewide. and Ray shared 61 years Town Boys and Girls Club. responsible for the creation the Sidney Village police of marriage before he From its inception through of the skateboard park in department, New york State predeceased her on Dec. 11, its evolution, she remained Sidney. police at troop c, Sidney 2013. involved in what became the eMS and volunteers from Together, Ronnie and Ray Tri-Town Youth Club. the community were joined owned Cross Creek Stables. friday by three residents of Ronnie began teaching ‘Ronnie’ Contunied horsemanship and riding For advertising, call Page 2 Melissa Matthews at 607-208-4064 2013 Chrysler Town & Country van 3.8L 6 cyl, auto trans, f & r AC, cruise, rear entertainment, red, 73717 miles, $11,900 TT 2 — Tri-Town News — Friday, August 10, 2018 Butternut Valley Unatego Contunied unatego Superintendent dr. ing the pros and cons right gal hurdles have been cleared, richards said any sig- david richards thanked cur- up until the seconds of the agZeit requires only four nificant updates or changes rent and past board members vote and I know you voted months to get growing. throughout the process will be for their diligence throughout in the best interest of the “as soon as all the legal announced at board meetings the lengthy process, begun community.” considerations are final, based and via the district website with a district-wide facilities richards said he plans to on past setups, we can be up and facebook page. study in fall 2015. contact the district’s attorneys and operating within a three- for more information, visit “You really took your immediately to “start the pro- month time frame,” he said. unatego.org. additionally, mission seriously and up cess of negotiating terms.” “Our retrofitting, outfitting find a“ gZeit” on facebook or until that first vote, I had “i suspect it will take sev- and hiring is done in three call the facility at 760-7455 to absolutely no idea which eral months from start to fin- months and, within a month schedule a tour. way it was going to go,” he ish,” richards said. after that, our first crop comes said. “You were consider- dutcher noted that, once le- up and we’re selling.” Morris, NY Guy Rathbun Park (Behind firehouse) ‘Ronnie’ Contunied Thursday, August 16 representing the Sidney “She was so strong, so thony t. forbidussi, Jr. of is extended by the family to 3:00-6:00pm united way Board of di- consistent and so thorough,” thompson, pennsylvania; christen Bloom, who pro- Farmers Market ~ Live Music ~ Home cooking rectors, carol allen said, Moore said. “i just loved grandchildren, Benjamin vided wonderful nursing “the board … is saddened her.” raymond Johnson, Mela- care for her grandmother at Free Admission Free Food to learn of the passing of an ronnie was a woman of nie anne Barrett, christen home, and devoted friend amazing lady, roma ‘ron- deep faith, from which grew Leigh Bloom and Laura kay Susan delello for all her sup- nie’ Haag.