right vote

To the Taxpayers of the Cherry Valley School District:

I wish to thank all of you who took the time to vote on the School Construction Proposal, and especially those of you who voted "No"!

As a retired person living in Cherry Valley, it is becoming harder to meet the increasing burden of taxes, being placed upon us by a school administration and school board who seems to believe that there is a golden goose that can be continually plucked.

Mr. Savin is quoted in The Daily Star as responding to the defeat of the proposal, saying it would have added only $52,000 to each year’s taxes and that the State would have paid most of the cost. But Mr. Savin, who is the State, except the same taxpayers you are already plucking? This $52,000, of course, would have been on top of the last four years of school tax increases of approximately 39 percent, and whatever increase Mr. Savin and our illustrious school board comes up with for the coming year.

We as taxpayers need to send a clear message that the goose is close to dead and that enough is enough!

Again, thank you all who voted "No."

Doris Mark

Cherry Valley

`Clean Elections’ a good start

When a democracy ceases to represent the will of the majority, it ceases to be a democracy. Most of us know that this war is immoral, but we feel powerless to make our government end it _ sooner rather than later, when the forces of terrorism, inspired by our bloody occupation of Iraq, have developed to a degree to jeopardize the future of our children.

Sadly, we recognize that impeachment is unlikely, largely because our Senate is a well-entrenched body, some of whom were placed there by the colossal fortunes of some of the very industries that profit most by this war. This government of the hens for and by the foxes must be replaced by one by and for the people.

How? The Otsego County Board led the way by passing a resolution to support public financing of elections, and Gov. Spitzer in his first address as governor endorsed it, as did Assemblyman Bill Magee in a letter he wrote to me. Sometime in late April, the State Assembly will introduce a bill to initiate these "Clean Elections," already working successfully in Maine and Arizona and soon in Connecticut.

Clean Elections means that anyone who can gather a certain number of small contributions can qualify for public money to finance their campaign. No longer will they have to court Big Business and when elected have to worry about giving paybacks in the form of subsidies and tax breaks; all they will have to do is to listen to their constituents and do what the majority want in the wisest way they can.

No, this won’t end the war tomorrow, but it can give us some hope for a real democracy.

Hilda M. Wilcox

Cooperstown

Carnival a success

On Saturday, March 24, the Cooperstown PTO held its annual fundraiser, the Crayon Carnival. I am proud to announce the day was a huge success! Not only was the day a success because of the approximate $6,000 that was raised, but because of the fun that was had by our community’s children.

An event such as this cannot be possible without a huge cast of volunteers. Many thanks go to: Jenny Zuckerman and her Machiavellian ways in coordinating all of the volunteers and the always fun Cake Walk; Donna Borgstrom; Karen Katz and Noelle Hage for expertly running the Food Court in all it’s gourmet deliciousness; Susie Knight and Alma Curtis for their tireless fundraising work; Alicia Chase, the so-on-the-ball it’s-incredible raffle basket guru; Lynne Mebust and Sarah Senschenyn, whose brains got picked clean; Sally Trosset Cari Lifgren, Nalini Hage, Bridget Bertram, Gwen Snyder, Leslie Friedman, Katie Lambert and others for their creative, cellophane-less school themed baskets; Gail Sacchi for her HGTV-worthy decorating and signs; Mary Bonderoff, Lori Nicholson, Carina Franck (AKA Madame Karma), Martha Heneghan and Roxy for their Prizes and Games insight (and somehow knowing kids would really enjoy throwing things into a potty seat); Mary Harmon for her Ticket wisdom; Peg Odell for her advertising expertise; Christy Mickels for coordinating the yummy Kindergoodies; Margaret Buchanan for her behind the scenes work; Pat Franck, Kai Mebust, Eric Hage and David Borgstrom for lending us some muscle; Nancy Potter, David Pearlman and their group for swooping in at the end with their priceless cleaning skills; and the school’s extremely helpful maintenance staff of Charlie and Dave who were lucky enough to work that day.

I would also like to thank all of the busy worker bees who ran games, painted faces, applied tasteful tattoos, gave out prizes, served food and gave their own time so that so many others could enjoy theirs.

Huge thanks also go to all the local businesses and individuals who donated food, money and merchandise. Without such generosity, the Crayon Carnival would not be possible. I’d like to thank our sponsors: Ashley Connor Realty, Barnyard Swing, Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown Beaver Valley Campsite, Delaware Otsego Corp. NYS&W, Essential Elements, Glimmerglass Opera, Gozigian Washburn & Clinton, Greener World, Tracey Helgeson, The Leatherstocking Group, Little Bo’tique, NBT Bank, Park Avenue Steals, Photography by Anita Briggs, Rainbow Enterprises (Holiday Inn), Schlather & Birch, Tin Bin Alley, Wal-Mart and Wilber National Bank.

I’d especially like to thank this year’s underwriters, whose charitableness is heartwarming: The Clark Estates, Clinton & Holohan, CPA’s, The Colonial Agency, Curves and Paraco Gas Corp.

Lastly, I’d like to send out a big thank you to our community in general for their support of such a worthwhile event.

Sheri Holohan

Crayon Carnival Chair

Dinner helped fight cancer

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the workers of the Otsego Manor and the volunteers who generously gave their time and effort in preparing and serving the Spaghetti Dinner on March 15. Words alone cannot express how much it meant to us.

We would also like to thank all of those who attended and donated. It was so heartwarming and overwhelming to see so many caring and thoughtful people.

Also we would like to include the Sodexho Senior Services for sponsoring the event and Iver Lindberg for donating the snow blower for the raffle.

Because of everyone’s hard work and generosity, the proceeds far exceeded our expectations. We received $6,023 for our relay team ``Ellis & Sallie’s Strength.’’ This money has been turned over to the Cooperstown Relay for Life-American Cancer Society. By turning over this money, we both feel it will help everyone with cancer in hopes of finding a cure. Again, thank you all so very much,

Ellis and Sallie Harrington

Cooperstown

Help shape village park

Village Gardens, off Beaver St. behind the Great American, is a beloved Cooperstown Village Park during winter. The people who ice skate beside the beautiful scenic mural know what a magical place it is. Now, the Village Parks Board is asking for residents to help shape the future of the park for potential year-round use.

On April 3 at 7 p.m., on the third floor ballroom of the Village Office Building at 22 Main St., we are conducting a Public Participation meeting on Village Gardens. This is your chance to help shape a park that you will use and help determine what the community recreational needs are for this area. It is a natural spot that can be used for many things- playground, nature walks, and picnic area, to name just a few ideas we have heard. Ultimately, the citizens of the Village of Cooperstown should determine its use. We want to hear from you. We hope to see you there.

Jeff Katz

Chair, Parks Board

Say no to metered parking

I am writing in response the story I saw in the Cooperstown Crier this week. The idea of making Doubleday Field parking lot a metered parking is not going to improve parking or traffic flow in the village.

As a business owner in the village, a large taxpayer and a native of Cooperstown, I have witnessed numerous summers in this village. I truly feel the board’s recommendation in this manner serves absolutely no one except the Village of Cooperstown revenues.

As the owner of Essential Elements Day Spa and Boutique, located in the Doubleday Field Parking lot, myself and other business owners have had to always take a back seat to the Main Street businesses. Any function brought to this town always results in the closing off of the only parking facility in this town for sometimes days at a time. My business has been directly affected with these decisions with no regard from the people making this decision. I have never been consulted in these decisions, and many others have not either. My sales have drastically decreased on these days that have usually been banner days. For example, July 4th weekend has been disastrous due to the closing of the parking lot.

I truly believe the proposed parking meters in Doubleday Field will only alienate more people. Changes must result in better residence ability and less stress and confusion on the part of our customers. I believe that all visitor or tourist parking should only be directed to the outlying trolley lots. Do not give the visitor any choice in this matter! People do not miss what they do not have. By directing all traffic the same way, we will decrease the jams on Chestnut Street and Main Street.

Doubleday Field Parking lot should be permit parking for only employees and business owners on Main Street and the parking lot. Main Street should become a parking metered area for residents only who truly do want to shop in the village of Cooperstown. Most residents are coming into the village on a short-term basis. The amount one would have to spend would be minimal, and I believe the sheer convenience of getting back the control of our village would be worth the money.

Many summer tourist areas use permit parking because they feel as taxpayers, they should get their needs met first. I feel this would bring other business interests, which have been bailing in the past years.

This village is extremely hard on business owners. Plowing has not been to its best this year. Doubleday Field parking lot is the only place to park, and over Winter Carnival and the Snowfest, we advertise to bring all these people to the village, and the parking lot was absolutely atrocious. But, the real slap in the face is that people who had to park on Main Street were issued two-hour parking tickets.

We need to start taking care of the people who are working in these businesses. Where do you think these employees are coming from? My employees have to come to work at least two hours early just to find a parking spot.

So in conclusion, I believe metered parking only on Main Street would help keep residents happy. Permit parking in Doubleday Field for downtown business owners and employees makes it a little easier to run a business in the village, and all tourist parking directed only to the outer lots and be brought into town by trolley would make the visitor happier and less stressed. The result would eliminate the need for tourists driving around in an area they are unfamiliar with trying to find parking, and not being enraged by the receipt of their parking tickets. Revenues for the village would be made by the sheer increase of the trolley and possibly having an all-day parking fee. It seems to me that this approach would be a win-win situation, keeping everyone _ residents, businesses, and tourists _ happy, and isn’t that how it should be?

Robin Gray

Owner, Essential Elements Day Spa and Boutique

137 Main St.

Cooperstown

Feury: Thanks

for support

I want to thank the 254 voters who cast their ballots for me. They realize that the future of Cooperstown lies in the recognition of the village’s past history as well as the current environment.

I want to thank Linda Smirk for her tireless campaigning efforts and Cindy Hubbell, Robert and Ingrid Graham, Mary Kuhn, and John Smirk for their willingness to telephone voters the evening before the election.

I will continue to work for the benefit of the residents of the Cooperstown.

Thank all of you for your support.

Tim Feury

Cooperstown

Star editorial

off the mark

The Daily Star’s March 19 editorial attacking County Representative Philip Durkin was woefully misinformed. The record needs to be set straight.

By November, it was generally known that the County Board wanted to return to the traditional arrangement of having one of its members on the County Planning Board.

At its December meeting, when two of Mr. Dixon’s colleagues, also assistant professors from SUCO, were both appointed to the planning board, surprise was expressed that Mr. Durkin had somehow been overlooked. County Planner Terry Bliss explicitly mentioned at that meeting that the size of the board could always be increased to fit in Mr. Durkin.

There are now three members from SUCO on the Planning Board. This is an unhealthy and entirely unacceptable situation.

At this month’s county board meeting, when Mr. Dixon unleashed his diatribe against Mr. Durkin for supposedly end-running a third handpicked candidate, he was so inflamed and insulting in his language that board members seemed incredulous.

He should have more properly brought his grievance directly to Chairman Lindberg, avoiding a temper tantrum in front of several of Mr. Durkin’s students, ironically present for a civics lesson.

It was very clear from Mr. Dixon’s remarks just how narrow his definition of competency is. Certainly it does not include an elected official who enjoys the affection and confidence of his constituents.

There is an agenda in all of this, found in the frequent appearance on the SUCO campus of Reunion Power.

Next month NYPIRG will present the benefits of wind power before Mr. Dixon’s board.

On the other hand, for over a year now, the Advocates for Cherry Valley have been denied the opportunity to bring their community’s perspective before the same board.

The County Planning Board needs to be reminded that it is not they who make policy. That is a privilege reserved to this county’s elected officials.

Andy Minnig

Cherry Valley

Zoning not the answer in CV

To the Cherry Valley Town Board

Gentlemen:

I wish to congratulate you on your choice of the individual who wrote the Town’s Master Plan. This manifesto has managed to undermine our United States Constitution, which guarantees our individual freedoms and property rights.

In my experience, never have I read a document so vague in the arguments used to justify the conclusions reached. It appears that the conclusions were reached before the supposed work was done to support them. Nowhere in this document is stated the number of responses received for the survey. Nor do we know that actual residents of Cherry Valley filled them out.

Nor was there any control of the number of surveys established. We are left only with vague statistics such as 41 percent supported land use districts; 12 percent were opposed. What happened to the other 47 percent of the respondents? Perhaps they had no idea they were being asked to support or oppose land use districts.

Finally, do you gentlemen really believe that by having zoning, Cherry Valley will become another Cooperstown as a tourist destination? If you do, I suggest you take off your rose-colored glasses and look at a deteriorating Main Street and the few supposed tourist attractions, most not even in the town, and ask yourselves, would you bring your family to Cherry Valley for even a day.

I have lived under zoning in the state of Connecticut, and it is only another power grab by local government officials, to control for the elite, what they feel is best for a population too stupid to know what’s good for themselves.

I urge you not to approve this document taking away landowners’ rights and liberties.

Richard Mark

Cherry Valley

Mebust thanks supporters

I’d like to thank the Cooperstown Democrats and the many people who supported my campaign for Cooperstown Village Trustee. I’d also like to thank Eric Hage and Tim Feury for running campaigns that challenged all of us to confront the many issues facing village residents today.

I appreciate the confidence that the voters of Cooperstown have placed in me, and I look forward to serving you as trustee. I hope that village residents will feel free to contact me via phone (544-1418) or email (Lmebust@stny.rr.com) with any issues of concern to you.

Lynne Mebust

Cooperstown

Let’s fight

cancer together

They often say that God won’t give you more than you can handle. This past February I questioned that. You see, just a few weeks prior my family was told that my mother, Sallie’s, ovarian cancer had returned again and we were also being hit with the fact that my father, Ellis, was just diagnosed with lung cancer. I was sure this was more than I could handle.

My mother’s original diagnosis happened only months after my youngest child was born. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. This was a happy time. All I could do was thank God for the family I had. My husband, Steven, was my rock. My children, Caleb, Sheridan and Stephanie, kept me smiling. My brother, Jeff, and his wife, Shannon, were always there with a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. My grandmothers, Rose and Elanie, helped to keep tabs on my mom.

Extended family was also always available at the phone call’s notice. But what could I do? The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life offered me that therapy.

In 2003, I decided to organize a team in honor of my mother. That is how "Sallie’s Strength" was started.

We had our ups and downs with my mom’s cancer. It came and went and I decided to get more involved in the Relay for Life. In the years to follow, not only did Shannon and I organize our team, but Shannon, Jeff, Mom and I also joined the planning committee. It was our little fight against this disease that affected so many people.

Last June, I chose to take another step. I stepped up to become the chairperson of the Cooperstown Relay for Life. Little did I know that this step would mean more to me now than I ever would have imagined.

In February, I thought my whole world was tumbling down. How is anyone supposed to deal with a full-time job, a very busy family-life, along with both parents having cancer? God was giving me more than I could handle.

Since February, I’ve changed my thinking. God knows my strength and my abilities. He knows what a wonderful support system there is for me. People in my small town of New Lisbon have offered to help with my children when my parents need me. My colleagues and administrators at Milford Central School have encouraged me to do what I need to for my own well being, as well as for my parents. My husband’s family has supported us with anything we could ask for. Extended family and close friends of my parents have taken care of household issues like snow removal, bathroom repair, and meal preparations. Anything that my brother or I can’t seem to take care of, someone has stepped up to bat for "Sallie and Ellis."

Last week, my father’s colleagues at The Otsego County Manor, planned, prepared and served a spaghetti dinner in honor of my parents. My brother and I attended. It was the final step in how my way of thinking has changed. The number of people who attended, took part, or simply called them with their well wishes was all the proof I needed. I can handle this. God knows what he is doing.

Cancer is an awful thing. Fortunately, as it has affected my family, it is not something I have to go through alone. There is hope. The Relay for Life offers some and our team, now renamed, "Ellis and Sallie’s Strength," is always looking for team members, donations or help with our fundraising.

Finally, without the incredible support system of family and friends, cancer would’ve had us beat this past February.

I would like to thank all who have helped in our battle against cancer, from the dinner to the cards; it is all appreciated. Knowing that so many people are aware of how special my parents are makes this battle a little easier to fight.

I would like to invite you all to join us this June 8 and 9 at the Westville Airport at this year’s Relay for Life. Come honor not only my parents, but all cancer survivors, as well as those who have lost their battles. It’s just one more thing we can all do.

Tracey Parker

Milford