Chamber of Commercer 2009

The Otsego CountyChamber salutes

The Otesaga Resort Hotel

and

Robert A. Harlem

Contributed photo

Above:

Robert A. Harlem,seen in this formal portrait from the late 1970s, wasnamed The Eugene A.Bettiol Jr. DistinguishedCitizen of the Year by TheOtsego County Chamber.

At left:

The Otesaga Resort Hotel, seen in early March, was named The OtsegoCounty Chamber/NBTBank DistinguishedBusiness of the Year.

Crier photo by Michelle Miller

A supplement toThe Daily Star onTuesday, March 31, 2009,The CooperstownCrier on Thursday, April 2, 2009, andThe Weekly Staron Friday, April 3, 2009.

T h e D a i l y S t a r , T u e s d a y , M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 0 9 ; T h e C o o p e r s t o w n C r i e r , T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 2 , 2 0 0 9 ; T h e W e e k l y S t a r , F r i d a y , A p r i l 3 , 2 0 0 9

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By Cassandra Miller

Contributing Writer

Sitting on an elevated spoton the south shore of OtsegoLake, with an imposing brickfacade and an interior of highceilings, chandeliers and jew-el-tone carpets, the OtesagaResort Hotel is very much the“grand dame” of Cooperstown.One hundred years oldthis year, the Otesaga is aginggracefully. Once consideredelitist, it’s changed its reputa-tion in the past several years.It’s more approachable thanin years past, reaching out tolocal businesses, organiza-tions and citizens. It’s in bet-ter shape than ever due to arecently completed $40 millionrestoration, and is attractingsocial guests, business organi-zations, Baseball Hall of Fametourists and professionals whostay for conferences and bringbusiness to the area.The Otsego County Cham-ber is recognizing the historichotel as the NBT Bank Distin-guished Business of the yearbecause of its commitment tothe community. “We look fora business that has stayingpower and in a large part givesback to the community,” saidRob Robinson, president andchief executive officer of theChamber.The Otesaga gives back bygenerously supporting areacharities and not-for-profitgroups, including CatskillArea Hospice and Pallia-tive Care Inc., the PathfinderVillage, Bassett Healthcare,American Red Cross and thetsego County Food Bank.“I’m thrilled (about theaward),” said John Irvin,general manager of the hotelfor the past seven years. “Itrecognizes us for what we’vetried to do, and that is be agood business partner in thecounty. ... It’s nice to learn thatpeople have noticed what youtry to do. It was a surprise andan honor.”s far as staying power isconcerned, the Otesaga hasbeen going strong for all 100ears it has been open. “I haveet to find another hotel thathas continuously operatedfor 100 years under the sameownership,” Irvin said.he hotel first opened thesummer of 1909 under the own-ership of Edward S. and Ste-phen C. Clark and has been inthe family since. Jane Forbeslark now oversees the hotel.“She’s in and out of Cooper-stown a lot and lets me knowhow she wants things done,”Irvin said. “She really enjoysthis hotel ... I thoroughly enjoyworking for who I work for.”he hotel was the locationof the prestigious Knox finish-ing school from 1920 to 1954,and then was a training centerfor American Telephone andTelegraph from 1961 to 1970.Every summer for the past 100years, the Otesaga has oper-ated as a resort. The Otesaga’sseason is from mid-April toThanksgiving.Otesaga means “a place of meetings” in Iroquois, and ithas lived up to its name in avariety of ways.On the hotel’s premisesis the Leatherstocking Golf Course, which is consideredone of the most scenic andchallenging in the Northeast_ and it’s open to the public.The course, along with “off-season” events such as cook-ing classes, concerts, comedynights and two restaurants, areeant to provide socializingopportunities for communityembers.“The community looks to usto find out what we‘re doing ...Most everyone in Cooperstowneats at the Hawkeye at leastonce or twice in the winter.(The Otesaga) is a social gath-ering spot,” Irvin said. “Wedon’t want any of the localpeople to feel that those gatesout there are a closed door.We want to be a part of thecommunity.”he Hawkeye Grill is thehotel’s restaurant, which of-fers casual dining year-round.he hotel’s main dining roomis also open to the public.onference Service Man-ager Jonathon White, whostarted working at the Otesaga19 years ago as a bellboy andworked his way through theranks, said the Otesaga hasbecome more a part of thecommunity since he was ayoung boy growing up in Coo-perstown. “We have definitelybecome more a part of thevillage. I used to think it waselitist,” White said.But now local people are inand out of the hotel for afford-able dining, events or just tohave a drink on the verandaoverlooking the lake on a sum-mer night.“It’s seldom in the summer-time that I cannot see localpeople having a drink on theveranda, and then they’ll justwalk home,” Irvin said.The hotel, which has 135guest rooms and suites andnine meeting rooms, is alsoa popular place for schoolreunions, birthday parties andweddings. “Weddings are themost fun,” said White, who isinvolved in managing all of the nuptial celebrations at thehotel.The staff of more than 300take great care in makingsure guests are happy. Whiteremembered one particularlychilly autumn when a bridewas disappointed that the usu-ally brilliant fall foliage hadfallen off the trees before herwedding. White paid a bunchof his friends $50 each to sailtheir boats across the lake sothe bridal party had somethingspecial in the backdrop.Whether providing the set-ting for a wedding or a Sundaybrunch, the Otesaga is one of Otsego County’s most-impres-sive and elegant meeting plac-es. And its recently reneweddedication to area charitiesand nonprofit organizationshave made the Otesaga go from“a good corporate citizen to anoutstanding corporate citi-zen,” Robinson said.The Otesaga will be recog-nized at a dinner at the StateUniversity College at Oneontaon Friday.

The Otsego County Chamber/NBT Bank Distinguished Business of the Year

ontributed photo

The Otesaga Hotel is seen in 1909.

The Otesaga going strong ater 100 years

T h eD ai l y S t ar ,T u e s d a y ,M ar ch 3 1 ,2 0 0 9 ; T h e C o o p er s t own C r i er ,T h ur s d a y ,A pr i l 2 ,2 0 0 9 ; T h eW e ek l y S t ar ,F r i d a y ,A pr i l 3 ,2 0 0 9

By Cassandra Miller

Contributing Writer

Robert A. Harlem has quiet-ly left his mark on the greaterneonta community throughhis involvement in numerousarea organizations. Those haveincluded the Oneonta Boysand Girls Club, Rotary Club,Elks Club, A.O. Fox MemorialHospital and Hartwick Col-lege, among others.His innate drive to be agood neighbor and an activepart of his community by beinginvolved in a variety of organi-zations coupled with Harlem’ssuccessful career as a triallawyer and later a judge, in-fluenced the Otsego CountyChamber in its decision to giveHarlem the Eugene A. Bet-tiol Jr. Distinguished CitizenAward.Harlem has helped makethe community a better placeand has humbly been involvedin the community for decadeswithout ever seeking acknowl-edgement, according to RobRobinson, president and chief executive officer of the OtsegoCounty Chamber.“I’m not sure we have acomplete list of all of theorganizations he’s contributedto or been a part of,” Robin-son said. When Harlem, 82,was told he had received thehonor, he tried to argue hisway out of it, saying that heshouldn’t be the recipient andthat he’s done what he’s donebecause it’s his community,according to Robinson. Butmany people in the communitybelieve that he is very deserv-ing of the honor.“It’s easy to see the thingsthat he’s done in the 15 yearsI’ve been here,” said Rob-inson, who has lived in fourstates, but said that he hasn’tseen the same commitment toquality of life from citizensand businesses as he has inthe Oneonta area.Harlem’s professional lifehas been defined by fairness,knowledge and “a command-ing presence,” according tolawyer Edward Gozigian, whohas tried cases against and infront of Harlem.Harlem was admitted topractice law in New Yorkstate in 1953 and was whatozigian describes as “a for-idable” trial lawyer beforehe was elected to the Otsegoounty and Surrogate Court as judge in 1972, and then to theSupreme Court for the Sixth Judicial District in 1978.“He was an outstanding jurist because of his extensiveexperience as a trial lawyer,at which he excelled,” saidozigian, who has knownHarlem for 50 years. “He’sery much in charge when he’son the bench. I liked tryingcases before him because hewas both knowledgeable and acommanding presence.”Harlem retired from thebench in 1991, but has sinceprivately practiced law withhis son Richard at the Lawffice of Harlem and Jervis inneonta.hen it comes to workingwith his dad, Richard said,“he’s a remarkable legalind,” adding that “it’s alwayswonderful to work with top-notch people.”Richard said that his dadhas led a good life, helping alot of people, never for a paton the back, but because it’sthe right thing to do.“He still helps people, andyou don’t even know it,” hesaid. Richard described hisdad as a hard worker whoalways insists on doing what’sbest for other people.Harlem’s family members,of which there are many, arevery important to him. Theyare one of the defining charac-teristics when people speak of Harlem.“He certainly has a largefamily of which he’s veryproud, and understandablyso,” Gozigian said.Apart from Harlem’s accom-plished children are Harlem’sgranddaughters Madie andLesley, Richard’s daughters,who were two of the starterson the Oneonta girl’s varsitybasketball team, which playedin the state finals. “I’m a prettylucky guy,” Richard said of hisfather’s and daughters’ suc-cesses this year.he focus growing up inHarlem’s house was on dis-ciple, being a good person andbeing a good neighbor, accord-ing to three of Harlem’s sixchildren.Richard remembers onehristmas when his parentstold them to take their favoritetoy and give it to an agencythat collected toys for kidswho didn’t have them. Two of Harlem’s other children, Bob Jr. and Rebecca Lloyd, whowork together at Bob Jr.’s busi-ess, Picket Building Materi-als, spoke about having strictguidelines, which includeddaily chores and not beingallowed to watch television onweeknights during school.hey read books, playedgames or went to their neigh-bors in Oneonta’s West End“to help out, mow their lawns,whatever needed to be done,”said Rebecca, who added thather dad always led by exampleand emphasized taking care of your neighbors and doing “theright thing.”Harlem resisted the idea of being recognized for his ser-vice to the community and said“I don’t want that” when hetalked to his children, accord-ing to Bob Jr., who said his dadexplained that he has beeninvolved in his community be-cause it’s where he lives andhe has just wanted to make it abetter place.Harlem has been involvedin the community “not for ac-colades, but because it’s hiscommunity, and he leaves ita little better than when hefound it,” Bob Jr said.Of the organizations Har-lem has been a part of, whichinclude St. Mary’s church, A.O.Fox Memorial Hospital, Hart-wick College, Oneonta Coun-try Club, Oneonta Elks Cluband Opportunities for Otsego,the Oneonta Boys and GirlsClub has consistently been animportant part of Harlem’svolunteerism.

Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen of the Year

Harlem’s influence felt in many areas

tar photo by Brit Worgan

The Low Office of Harlem and Jervis, formally known as the Harlem Law Office, is seen Wednesday, March 25. Robert A. Harlem, seen at left, works with his son Richard at the firm.

Contributed photo

See HARLEM on Page 4