Cortland Standard - A Community's Voice Fades

A familiar presence in Cortland County for well over a century, the local newspaper, the Cortland Standard, is, regrettably, closing its doors. This cherished publication, a true staple of daily life for generations, will print its very last issue on March 13, 2025. It's a moment, really, that marks a significant shift for the community, bringing to an end a long tradition of local reporting and connection.

The news comes as the paper faces some rather tough times, so, like many similar publications, it has made the difficult decision to file for what's called Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. This move, which happened quite suddenly, has meant saying goodbye to 17 dedicated people who worked there, leaving a noticeable gap in the local media scene. It's a big change, you know, for everyone involved.

For years, the paper has been battling some pretty steep uphill climbs. Things like rising costs for newsprint, partly due to tariffs, and a noticeable drop in the number of folks reading the paper have made it increasingly difficult to keep things going. This closure, in a way, shows just how challenging it is for local news sources to stay afloat in our quickly changing world.

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Table of Contents

• What Happened to the Cortland Standard?
• The Cortland Standard's Last Edition
• Why Did the Cortland Standard Close Its Doors?
• The Challenges Facing the Cortland Standard
• How Will the Community Get Its News Now?
• Life Beyond the Cortland Standard
• Remembering Key Figures in the Cortland Community?
• Honoring Those Connected to the Cortland Standard's History

What Happened to the Cortland Standard?

The Cortland Standard, a newspaper that has been a part of Cortland County since 1867, will print its final issue on March 13, 2025. This is, you know, a pretty big deal for a publication with such a long and storied past. The paper has, in fact, made the tough decision to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, which is a process that signals the end of its operations as a business. This action has, quite unfortunately, led to a significant reduction in staff, with 17 employees being let go, according to reports from X101 News. It’s a sad moment, really, for those who worked there and for the community that relied on its pages.

The Cortland Standard's Last Edition

When that final paper rolls off the presses on March 13, 2025, it will be, quite literally, the last edition of the Cortland Standard that anyone will ever pick up. This marks a truly historic moment, a turning point for local news coverage in the area. For over 150 years, the paper has been a consistent presence, delivering news, sports, and community happenings to homes across Cortland County. Its absence will be felt, to be honest, by many who have grown up with it as a regular part of their lives. The Cortland Voice, another local news outlet, has been working to report on the story behind this closure, exploring the reasons and the larger effect it will have on the community, which is, in some respects, quite important for everyone to grasp.

Why Did the Cortland Standard Close Its Doors?

The decision to cease operations was not, as you might guess, an easy one, and it came about because of several very challenging circumstances. One major factor was the expected 25% tariff on newsprint, which, you know, makes the raw materials for printing a paper significantly more expensive. This, coupled with a steady decline in the number of people reading newspapers in print, created a very difficult financial situation. Basically, fewer readers meant less advertising revenue, and higher costs meant a tighter budget, making it a nearly impossible situation to maintain operations. It's a pattern, really, that many local papers have faced in recent years, so this isn't entirely surprising.

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The Challenges Facing the Cortland Standard

Beyond the newsprint tariffs and the decrease in readership, the Cortland Standard was also grappling with skyrocketing operational costs. Everything from ink to distribution, and, you know, even the general upkeep of a business, became increasingly expensive. These financial pressures, combined with the other difficulties, made it unsustainable to continue publishing. The paper, which had been overseen by the fifth generation of the same family, truly tried to weather these storms, but the combined weight of these issues proved too much to overcome. It's a stark reminder, perhaps, of the fragile state of local journalism in our current economic climate, and it's something that, honestly, affects more than just one town.

How Will the Community Get Its News Now?

With the Cortland Standard no longer publishing, a significant question arises for the community: how will local news and important public notices be shared? The Cortland County Legislature, recognizing this immediate need, met quite quickly on the heels of the paper's sudden closure. Their goal was to designate an official publication for the county, a place where legal notices and government information could be reliably printed. This is a vital step, as such notices are, you know, essential for transparency and for keeping residents informed about local government actions. It shows, in a way, how quickly local leaders had to act to fill this important gap.

Life Beyond the Cortland Standard

The community is, in a sense, adjusting to a world without the daily presence of the Cortland Standard. While the Cortland Voice has been reporting on the closure and its impact, the search for a new official publication highlights the practical challenges that arise when a long-standing institution like the paper ceases to exist. It's not just about reading the news; it's also about official announcements, public hearings, and other important civic information that needs a reliable outlet. This transition period is, you know, a time of adaptation for residents and local government alike, as they figure out the best ways to keep everyone in the loop. It really underscores, too, how central a local paper can be to the everyday workings of a town.

Remembering Key Figures in the Cortland Community?

Even as the community grapples with the news about the Cortland Standard, life continues, and with it, the somber task of remembering those who have passed away. The paper, for so long, served as a place where the lives of local residents were honored and shared. For instance, Charles House Jr., a 57-year-old from Cortland, New York, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Born on January 27, 1968, in Watertown, New York, Charles was known as a person of great honesty and humility, someone with a thoughtful mind and a knack for creating things. His passing, like that of others, was a moment of reflection for many in the area, showing how interconnected everyone is in a smaller town, and how these individual stories, you know, really make up the fabric of the community.

Another beloved member of the Cortland community, Sandra (Porter) Cowan, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2025, at the age of 82. She was, by all accounts, a cherished mother and grandmother, someone deeply loved by her family and friends. These personal stories, often shared in the pages of the local paper, helped connect people, offering comfort and a sense of shared experience during times of loss. David Colantonio, 89, of Cortland, New York, also passed away on May 23, 2025. He was born on December 19, 1935, in Montorio nei Frentani, Italy, and was the son of the late Domenico. And then there's George, 49, who died on June 14, 2025, with a time of sharing planned from 10 to 11 a.m. These individual departures, in a way, remind us of the constant ebb and flow of life in any community, and how a local paper, like the Cortland Standard, played a part in marking these moments.

Honoring Those Connected to the Cortland Standard's History

While the newspaper itself is ceasing publication, the spirit of community and the desire to preserve local history remain strong. The Cortland County Historical Society (CCHS), for example, has recently acquired the church building that used to house the Free Methodist Church. They have plans to use this new space for upcoming programs, which is, you know, a rather exciting development for local history enthusiasts. This move shows a continued commitment to community gathering and the sharing of stories, even as one long-standing storyteller, the Cortland Standard, steps away. It's a reminder that while some things change, the community's desire to connect and learn about its past, and indeed its present, tends to be a constant force, and that's something, really, to hold onto.