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4 / Monday, February 2, 2015
LOCAL
Fulton County residents want seat
at county agriculture society table
By CAROLINE MURRAY
Recorder News Staff
FONDA — The Korona family wants to get on
board with the Montgomery County Agricultural
Society, or at least have the opportunity to do so.
The society board gathered Wednesday at FondaFultonville High School for its annual meeting, during which a resolution to allow Fulton County residents to run for a seat on the board was turned down
by society members.
Members voted 24-20 with one abstention. The
resolution needed a two-thirds majority in order to
pass, society president Richard Kennedy said.
Perth dairy farmer Stanley Korona Jr. said he
joined the society 30 years ago to enter the family’s
milking cows into a competition at the Fonda Fair.
Korona said he and his family pay annually to participate in the fair, which the agricultural society
organizes.
He said he would appreciate if his family, and
other Fulton County residents, had the opportunity
to help run the fair.
“There are a lot of people from Fulton County that
bring their animals. We have been for years,”
Korona said. “We have no say on the board at all. It
upsets me a little.”
Korona pointed to his father, Stanley, who has
been a life-long member of the agricultural society.
Stanley Korona founded his dairy business, Korona
Dairy Farm, 49 years ago in the town of Perth.
Stanley Korona jr. thinks his father deserves a seat
on the board.
This is not the first time the resolution has been
brought to the table. Last year, a similar resolution
was presented to members at their annual meeting.
Members voted it down. The total count was 55- 29.
According to the meeting’s minutes, the resolution
asked to amend the society’s constitution in order to
extend the board to two Fulton County residents.
At the end of the meeting, members decided to
write a new resolution that extends those two positions to both Montgomery and Fulton county residents.
Kennedy said if the resolution passed Wednesday
the members would not be elected until the following year.
“According to the bylaws it has to go through the
proper channels and the nominating committee
made up of members of the advisory board would
then seek out members to run for these two spots,”
Kennedy said.
According to the society’s current constitution, the
board is made up of one resident from each town in
Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Legislature Chairman Martin
Kelly is a representative of the town of Minden.
After the meeting, Kelly said he voted in favor of
the resolution. He believes there should be a wider
representation of both Montgomery and Fulton
county residents on the board.
He believes the resolution will make an appearance at next year’s annual meeting, and continue to
until its approved.
“I understand the concern of Fulton County residents and I agree with their sentiment,” Kelly said.
“We are 174 years old and you know it is going to
take some time for this to happen.”
Firefighters battle Saturday morning blaze
By CAROLINE MURRAY
Recorder News Staff
FORT JOHNSON — A structure fire in the village
of Fort Johnson left three local residents out in the
cold Saturday morning.
The Fort Johnson Volunteer Fire Co. responded to
the blaze at 659 McKay Road at approximately 10
a.m. Fire Chief Audie Miller said the residents were
not home when the fire started.
Two dogs and three cats were killed in fire, Miller
said. No other injuries were reported.
Miller said after an investigation, it was determined an electrical malfunction with a toaster
caused the fire.
He said the fire lasted through the evening, and
tore through the roof of the house. He does not
believe the entire structure is totaled. Miller said that
is yet to be determined by the insurance company.
In addition to Fort Johnson, he said Hagaman and
Tribes Hill fire fighters were on the scene.
Four other local fire departments were on standby.
Volunteers from the Northeastern New York
Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to two adults and one 5-yearold. The family was provided with financial assistance for food and clothing, according to a press
release.
Lottery numbers
Staten Island Chuck begs to differ
ALBANY (AP) — Here
are the winning numbers
selected Sunday in the
New York state Lottery:
MIDDAY DAILY: 6-8-9
LUCKY SUM: 23
MIDDAY WINFOUR: 6-0-9-3
LUCKY SUM: 18
EVENING DAILY: 1-4-1
LUCKY SUM: 6
EVENING WINFOUR: 9-8-8-2
LUCKY SUM: 27
PICK 10: 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 13,
17, 20, 21, 22, 28, 35, 45,
49, 59, 64, 66, 67, 70, 78
TAKE FIVE: 5, 12, 26, 31, 34
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s answer to
Punxsutawney Phil says there will be an early spring.
Staten Island Chuck did not see his shadow Monday morning. Punxsutawney Phil, on the other hand, did.
The ceremony was held during a storm that dumped freezing
rain and some snow on the groundhog’s home at the Staten
Island Zoo.
Mayor Bill de Blasio was in attendance.
Last year the mayor was holding the groundhog when it
slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
The groundhog died weeks later. A medical exam revealed it
died of internal injuries but zoo officials said it was unclear if
they were caused by the fall from de Blasio’s arms.
A change to the ceremony this year meant the mayor did not
handle the groundhog.
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OBITUARIES
Mary Minasi
January 30, 2015
Mrs. Mary Minasi, 96, of Amsterdam, NY passed
away Friday afternoon January 30, 2015 at her home
surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Amsterdam, NY on July 1, 1918 a daughter
of the late Rocco and Theresa Richi Alessi. She was
a lifelong Amsterdam resident and attended local
schools.
Mary was a homemaker and raised her four
children. She also worked as a secretary for her
MINASI
husband’s business the former Reliable Home
Improvement Company in Amsterdam. In her early years she worked
for Fownes Glove Co. in Amsterdam as a glove maker.
Mrs. Minasi was a Sunday School Teacher and was devoted to her
church the former St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church
in Amsterdam. She currently is a communicant of Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel Church in Amsterdam.
She married Robert B. Minasi on September 10, 1939. He passed
away on August 17, 1992.
She is survived by one son, Rocco (Diane Morin) Minasi of
Amsterdam; three daughters, Roberta Iwanski of Amsterdam, Patricia
Moore of Austin Texas and Nancy (William) Bush of Amsterdam; one
Brother, Sam Alessi of Tribes Hill, NY; eight cherished grandchildren,
Rocco (Sonia) Minasi, Veronica Minasi, Sherry Patterson, Jim Iwanski,
Sean (Audra) Moore, Mikaila Moore, Rachael and Jillian Bush; ten
great–grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Mary was predeceased by two infant children, Robert and Anne. She
was also predeceased by her brothers, Tony, Carmen and Joe Alessi
and one sister, Nancy Casso and her daughter-in-law, Joan Minasi.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday February 5, 2015 at
10:15A.M. at the Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171
Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at
11:15A.M. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church, 39 St.
John St. Amsterdam with Father Lawrence J. Decker as Celebrant.
Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery,
Amsterdam.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday February
4, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00P.M. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shrine of Our Lady Of
Martyrs, 136 Shrine Rd, Fultonville, NY 12072.
Please sign the family guestbook at www.brbsfuneral.com.
BETZ, ROSSI & BELLINGER
FAMILY FUNERAL HOME
171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010
518-843-1920 • www.brbsfuneral.com
George J. Gravrogkas
January 30, 2015
George J. Gravrogkas, 86, died on January 30, 2015
in Albany. He was born in Lithuania on April 28, 1928
and was the son of Julian and Olga Gravrogkas. His
father, Julian, was the President of Vytautas University
in Kaunas, Lithuania, and George was raised in an
environment of learning, teaching and music.
After graduation from gymnasium in Germany,
George began his studies in music composition, a
pursuit which he continued until shortly before his
GRAVROGKAS death. He emigrated to the United States with his parents after World War II. Shortly after arriving in the United States, he
joined the United States Army, qualified as a paratrooper, and proudly
served his new country as an intelligence officer with the famed 101st
Airborne Division.
After military service, he began the studies in German and Russian
languages which formed his long career and language and cultural
education in colleges and universities in the Capital District. After
receiving his B.A. from Union College, and his M.A. from the State
University of New York at Albany, he joined the faculty of Liberal Arts
at Hudson Valley Community College and was soon named Chairman
of the Department of Modern Languages. During his 30 year career at
Hudson Valley, George was instrumental in the development of
modern language education techniques and the installation of the
library and learning facilities which supported education in modern
languages, especially German , Russian and Lithuanian, in which he
remained fluent for his entire life. He also took special pride in the successful development of the language and culture clubs, which allowed
students not only to learn a language but also to learn the customs and
culture of Germany and Russia. He was recognized for his skills in
administration, teaching and mentoring of both students and junior
faculty. He was especially appreciated for his tactful and patient
approach.
His academic skills and accomplishments led to his appointment as
Professor, and later to the awarding of the status of Professor and
Chairman Emeritus, a title he proudly held after his retirement in 1993.
He was loved by his students and colleagues, who continued to seek
his advice and counsel long into his retirement.
He loved the arts, his music and his wife of 54 years, Aldona L
.Baltch M.D., who survives him.
He is also survived by several cousins.
Calling hours at the Bowen and Parker Brothers Funeral Home, 97
Old Loudon Road in Latham, were Sunday, February 1 from 2-4 PM.
Funeral services will held today (Monday) February 2. Friends called
Monday at the funeral home at 9 AM, and the Mass of Christian
Burial followed at 10 AM at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville .
Interment service was at the chapel in St. Casimir’s Cemetery,
Amsterdam NY at 1 PM on Tuesday February 3.
Visit www.bowenandparkerbros.com for condolence book and
directions.