Marijuana Law Change Not on Agenda

Marijuana Bill Not on Agenda This Session

New York State’s proposal to make the possession of small amounts of marijuana will not make it to law this legislative session.

With lawmakers working on legislation to wrap up this year’s proceedings in the assembly and senate, the governor’s pot proposal is not scheduled to come up for a vote in the republican-led senate.

The governor had proposed to make possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana a violation instead of a misdemeanor.

While the democratically-led assembly approved the measure, the effort stalled in the senate where republicans showed opposition. One lawmaker said the change would make the empire state look soft on crime.

The governor’s change would mostly affect the New York City area, where police officers have a stop-and-frisk program. The governor said the current law unfairly targets minorities for jail time.

Historical Society Recognizes Local Fourth Graders’ Works

A number of fourth graders from Oneonta were recognized this week by the greater Oneonta historical society.

The elementary students took part in a project called “if this building could talk”. The effort was part of the eighth annual Sally Mullen Local History award.

Of the 45 projects submitted, first prize went to Aivan Malanoski of Riverside Elementary who did a project about the Swart-Wilcox house.

Second went to Ava Wilbur of Center Street Elementary, who did a project about her great-great-great uncle‘s house, the George Wilbur mansion, and third prize went to Kate Ackley of the Center Street school who also did a project about the Swart-Wilcox house.

The projects are on display at the historical society’s windows at 183 Main Street. The award is named after Sally Mullen, who was the long-time Center Street School librarian and enthusiastic member of the historical society.

Historical Society Reopens

The greater Oneonta Historical Society has reopened its center in downtown Oneonta.

The center at 188 Main Street was closed for about four months while construction was being done to make the second floor usable for storage of its collection.

The center held an open house yesterday to celebrate its 7th anniversary. The next project is a new layout for the first floor of the building.

Hall of Fame to Hold Blood Drive

The national baseball hall of fame and museum will host a blood drive, sponsored by the American Red Cross in conjunction with Bassett Healthcare Saturday from 9 a.m. To 3 p.m. in Cooper Park, adjacent to the hall of fame in a Red Cross bloodmobile.

Blood donors will receive free admission to the museum on Saturday. Volunteer donors who have not donated within the last 56 days of June 23 are eligible to donate blood on Saturday.

For more information, visit their web site at baseballhall.Org or call 888-hall-of-fame (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.

SUCO Receives State Diversity Grant

SUNY Oneonta is one of six colleges selected by the State University of New York’s office of diversity, equity and inclusion to receive a grant to support diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus.

The $10,000 explorations in diversity and academic excellence grant will fund a series of activities during the fall 2012 and spring 2013 semester to further diversity and inclusion on campus and in the Oneonta community.

Titled “Through Each of our Voices: Narratives on Diversity, Inclusion and Community,” the series will include multimedia and cultural immersion projects examining the obstacles facing underrepresented groups, film screenings, and workshops on bullying and "hidden" disabilities.

It will culminate in an event celebrating diverse cultures and showcasing project participants’ experiences through art, music, poetry and other media.