There were times during 1986 when some aspects of life were in danger of being lost or cut, but in the end, were saved.
Some saves were in education. As The Daily Star of March 5, 1986 reported, “With a federal budget move to cut back educational funding by as much as 30 percent in the next two years, times ahead may be tough for college students without improved private aid.
“Local colleges are seeking more money from the private sector to help scholars. Many students arrive at college with private sector scholarships from their individual school districts. Meanwhile private funds from college fund raising are comparatively small, and in need of continued growth to outweigh the proposed federal cuts.
“At Delhi College, with about 2,400 students, private sector scholarships were just $30,000 in 1981. Today they are at the $69,000 level and growing.”
Area college foundations were stepping up fund raising efforts, as well, to keep the scholarships coming.
Saves came in another form, thanks to a local man, set to retire soon.
As The Star of March 11 reported, “The man who has guided the South Kortright Center for Boys for the past 23 years is retiring next month.
“Fred Allen started the program here in the mansion of a rich Scot, transforming the trappings of luxury into a school to help youths turn their lives around.” The mansion, known as Belle Terre, was built in 1906 by Andrew McLean, a “copper baron” during the Gilded Age.
“The teenagers come to the Center from all over the state. Most are from broken homes. Most have been found guilty of some kind of felony-level crime. Most have only the Center standing between them and hard time.
“Youths who have arrived in handcuffs at this highly-praised state Division for Youth Facility have returned to thank Allen.
“Sitting in his office Monday, he recalled some of the many success stories among the 1,900 youths who have come to the school off Route 10 in the past two decades.” A lot of saves. The school remained active until 2011.
Elsewhere, Star readers on March 19 found out, “Employees and supporters of the Otsego County Cooperative Extension Association, protesting drastic cuts in President Reagan’s budget proposal, heard an aide for Senator Daniel P. Moynihan tell them Tuesday the senator was on their side.
“‘These cuts are far out of line,’ said Robert Smith, an aide in Moynihan’s Oneonta office. ‘There will probably be cuts, but they will not be anywhere near the 60-perent level.’
“Smith said Moynihan has been getting 30-50 letters a week opposing cuts in the Cooperative Extension.”
According to Lee Murdoch, president of the association’s board of directors, “Compromise would be fine, but it should be right across the board, and we can start with the defense industry and go all the way through.”
Names of people who helped develop Hartwick College were saved and placed on buildings in 1986.
As The Star of March 4 reported, “The new townhouse construction project at Hartwick College has been named the Hartwick College board of trustees.
“In addition, the trustees have named three of the four buildings in the project in honor of three longtime friends of the college, Beatrice Blanding and Doris Patrick of Oneonta, and Joyce Gleeson of San Mateo, Calif.
“Ritchie served as the fourth president of Hartwick from 1953 to 1959.
“‘The recognition of the trustees signifies the contributions made in the historic development of the Hartwick campus during his presidency,’ said Phillip S. Wilder, president of the college. ‘Without Ritchie’s faith, determination and administration, Hartwick might not have made it into the 1960s.’
“The Ritchie Quad consists of four units of apartment-style residence halls at the southern end of the campus. A total of 80 students can be accommodated in the new facility, with each apartment housing four students.” Still under construction, opening ceremonies were scheduled for September.
This weekend, entertainment around Chenango County in 1926.