No matter who wins the November 5 election, especially in a place where we all rely on each other every day, we’re going to need to find a way to get along and move ahead.
With that in mind, the Cobleskill United Methodist Church will be hosting a free, non-partisan workshop on Saturday, October 19, intended to “teach skills for having political conversations across the divide.”
The 9am-noon workshop is being presented by Braver Angels of the Capital District.
They’ve already been at the UMC for an in-congregation session and with the clock ticking down on the election—and what comes afterwards—Rev. Anna Blinn Cole said it seemed like a good time to open the discussion u ...

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A Town of Seward mailing urging residents to vote “yes” on changing the highway superintendent’s job from elected to appointed—and mischaracterizing the state’s Proposal One, Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment—is drawing fire.
Supervisor Earlin Rosa defended the mailing as “informational” and said after months of upheaval in the Highway Department, it was important to explain Proposal 2 to residents.
Prop 1 was included because it’s also on the ballot, he said.
Residents think otherwise.
Several have already filed complaints with the State Attorney General and Comptroller’s Office over misuse of public funds, criticizing the use of official town envelo ...

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It’s a first step, but a huge one:
Friday, with just a touch of ceremony, supervisors signed a purchase agreement to sell the old jail to CSD Housing, which hopes to turn it into 55-60 units of affordable apartments.
Mike Newman, CSD director of Development, said afterwards that the agreement lets them begin their due diligence at the Village of Schoharie site.
It’s “absolutely” a viable site, Mr. Newman said, in part because it’s close to downtown.
But they’ll also need to look at the cost of things like demolition, asbestos removal, and moving the project out of the flood plain, all while asking the question:
Is there anything that makes it cost-prohibit ...

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The layoffs of 100 employees across the Bassett Healthcare Network won’t have a severe impact on Cobleskill Regional Hospital.
Nonetheless, the local layoffs are painful, according Susan Oakes Ferrucci, hospital president and chief executive officer.
She said about seven would be laid off between the hospital and nearby Bassett Health Center. The number, however, is difficult to pinpoint because some Network employees work out of Cobleskill, Ms. Oakes Ferrucci said.
Layoffs across the Bassett Network were done to reduce a financial deficit, and the Cobleskill layoffs won’t affect patient care, Ms. Oakes Ferrucci added.
“Our highest priority is quality care,” she ...

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The Cobleskill-Richmondville School Board took the formal step towards the proposed $12.5 million building project Monday night.
Board members officially approved the proposition that will go to voters December 11.
Since being proposed earlier this school year, the project’s remained unchanged, consisting of repairs and improvements to C-R’s four schools.
There would be no new buildings.
Mr. Sickles said state aid would be favorable for the project and that it would have no impact on the tax levy. He also believed C-R would not have to use funds from its Capital Construction Reserve.
The district would be taking on debt, he added, but would also be taking ...

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