Reporter’s Notebook: Veterinarian’s gesture eases pain of tragedy
4 hrs ago
A local veterinarian helped ease the impact of a sad situation, according to Oneonta Police Chief Douglas Brenner.
A dog died in a fire at 89 Ford Ave. on Aug. 21, and authorities prevented a woman from going into the the burning house to save the pet.
Brenner said police recovered the dog from the house, then called Dr. Joan Puritz, who arraigned for cremation and the return of the cremains in an urn at no charge to the owner.
Puritz, whose Oneonta Veterinary Hospital is at 525 Main St., previously has helped in cases involving pets and animals by providing free assistance and referrals, Brenner said.
“She’s helped us out a bunch of times,” Brenner said. “She’s a nice lady.”
The Oneonta Fire Department reported that the fire was started by a lit cigarette dropped on the front porch. The female occupant had been out of the house and found it afire when she returned.
The fire, which gutted the house, was extinguished in about an hour by crews from Oneonta, Worcester, Franklin, Sidney and Otego, with Laurens and Wells Bridge departments on standby. New York State Electric and Gas Corp. restored power to several streets after flames burned through wires and blew a transformer.
The single-family house is owned by Louise Klejbuk, according to Otsego County Real Tax Services online.
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Phrases describing on-campus housing have metamorphosed during the decades — from “dormitories” to “residence halls,” and housing amenities and options changed.
This year, the State University College at Oneonta has continued and expanded a program called Living Learning Communities, or “LLC” for short. The program is for freshmen seeking greater involvement around a specific area of interest.
The LLCs, offered within the college’s First-Year Experience Program, this year are in the areas of pre-health professions; leadership; sustainability and the outdoors; teaching and social justice; music; and community health services, college officials said.
Research shows that students who participate in an LLC have higher academic success rates, higher college graduation rates, higher levels of satisfaction with their college experience, and an easier time connecting with their peers, according to the SUNY Oneonta website.
The First-Year Experience Program is designed to support students during the transition from high school to college, the website said. FYE fosters participation and community development in co-curricular events such as a “common read,” where freshmen read the same diversity-related book that is discussed in fall courses, guest lectures and other events.
All freshmen live in one of five, corridor-style FYE halls, the site said, and perks include WiFi, cable TV and telephone service, free laundry facilities on each floor, recreational lounges, computer lab with printers, individual and group study space, fitness center and kitchens.
Students living in LLCs were among the first students to arrive at the campus last week.
Classes at SUNY Oneonta and at Hartwick College in Oneonta start Monday, Aug. 27.
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The Catskill Center in Arkville seeks support for accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, according to a media release. The commission reviews an applicant’s policies and programs, and a public comment period is open.
The accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national standards for protecting natural places and working lands forever, the Catskill Center release said. Comments on the center’s application are requested no later than Oct. 29, officials said.
The commission accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit comments, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org . or email comments to . Comments may be forwarded to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, ATTN: Public Comments by fax at (518) 587-3183 or by mail to 112 Spring St., Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
For more information, call Michael Drillinger at the Catskill Center at (845) 586-2611, ext. 113.
Denise Richardson, staff writer, may be reached at (607) 441-7213 or at . Follow her on Twitter at @DS_DeniseR. Tags