Senate Resolution No. 1212

BY: Senator SEWARD

COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of
Otselic, in Chenango County

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and
commemorate the distinguished histories of the communities which
comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Otselic, in Chenango
County, New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious milestone will be celebrated with a myriad
of events held throughout the year beginning with the debut of a special
United States Postal Service cancellation at the South Otselic Post
Office on Tuesday, March 28, 2017; and

WHEREAS, On July 8, 2017, Town Supervisor Evan Williams and
residents of Otselic will gather to recognize their town's bicentennial
at a birthday party at the NBT Bank; people are then invited to
participate in a bus tour of the town with the town historian serving as
guide; this will be followed by a flag raising, readings, a tree
planting, and a community picnic, as well as a band concert by the
Smyrna Citizens' Band; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Otselic is situated on the north border of
Chenango County, northwest of the city of Norwich; as of the 2010
census, its population consisted of 1,054 residents; today's population
is about half of what it was in 1875; 356 households, and 259 families
reside in the town; and

WHEREAS, The town is named after a river flowing through it, the
Otselic, which is an Oneida word for "place of wild plums"; the Otselic
Valley is the predominant geographic feature in the town, connecting it
to the surrounding region north and south; and

WHEREAS, Around 1800, the first settler came to the area; other
settlers, many of whom were from Connecticut, soon arrived, and the Town
of Otselic was founded in 1817, from part of the Town of German; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Town of Otselic is comprised of several
communities including Beaver Meadow, Mariposa, Otselic, Otselic Center,
Rhode Island, Sandersonville, Seventh Day Hollow, South Otselic,
Stanbro, and Upper Beaver Meadow; and

WHEREAS, The South Otselic State Fish Hatchery is one of 12 state
administered fish hatcheries in the State of New York; the hatchery
rears the entire statewide supply of tiger muskellunge, produces
pond-reared walleye fingerlings, and rears small lots of wild,
heritage-strain brook trout; annual production is 15,000 pounds of fish;
and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has
a total area of 38.0 square miles; over 10 square miles or about 7,000
acres are state-owned forest lands dedicated to the production of forest
products and open to the public for forest-related recreation such as
hunting, camping, fishing, hiking and cross country skiing; and

WHEREAS, The highest altitude is just over 2,000 feet above sea
level along the south town line, rising from the lowest elevation of
about 1,200 feet at the bottom of the Otselic Valley; and

WHEREAS, The Otselic River runs through the town and flows into the
Tioughnioga River as part of the Susquehanna River watershed of
Chesapeake Bay; and

WHEREAS, Formerly most of the land was in agriculture, chiefly
dairy; since the end of the 19th Century, farm abandonment increased,
and today, forest cover and early succession forest regrowth dominate
the landscape, mixed with remaining dairy farms; and

WHEREAS, Logging has always been an important part of the local
economy, utilizing high-value hardwoods for sawlogs, as well as firewood
and softwood poles and pulp; and

WHEREAS, Hunting, trapping and wildlife-related recreation such as
bird watching and wildlife viewing are important activities; during the
summer breeding season, the Otselic area has over 100 breeding bird
species, one of the highest numbers of breeding bird species in New
York; bald eagles and osprey are seen regularly along the Otselic River,
and ravens are repopulating the hills, reclaiming their historic range;
and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the Town of Otselic continues its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive
business, institutional and educational climate, and providing all
essential services; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Otselic, recognizing
the significance of the role it continues to play in the life of the
community of the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Evan Williams, supervisor, Town of Otselic.