This is to publicly express my admiration for the CCS boy’s soccer team which had an exceptional season this year and progressed all the way to the Sectional Finals.

They were just that, A TEAM.

They played as a team and it was because of that that they had so many wins.

What a pleasure it was to watch you play.

Congratulations to you all,

Grace Kull

(John Rathbun’s proud grandmother)

Cooperstown

Pancake day

a success

Doug Geertgens and Scott Barrett, co chairs for this year’s 50th annual Cooperstown Rotary Pancake Day, want to extend their thanks to all of the Rotarians and the many members of the community who helped with and supported this important Rotary fundraiser.

Special thanks to John Irvin and the Otesaga Hotel for their generous donation of apple sauce and sausage, to Bill Michaels and the Fly Creek Cider Mill for their donation of cider, and to Ferd Thering for his donation of butter.

Pure maple syrup purchased locally from Bruce Phillips in Hartwick, provided the finishing touch to an excellent meal.

Doug Geertgens

Hartwick

Santa Claus is going green

If anyone knows first hand about the melting polar icecaps, it’s Santa Claus, so he’s doing something about it. Santa’s going green!

This year the Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee will be replacing their traditional holiday lighting with LED light, both on the poles that line Main Street and on the Christmas tree and Santa’s cottage in Pioneer Park.

The LED lights will use 80 percent less energy than the traditional lights that the Christmas Committee has been providing and decorating Cooperstown with for the last 20 years.

Not only is that good news for the environment, but also a considerable savings.

This opportunity is offered through a startup grant from NYSERTA, which will provide $1,000 dollars toward the purchase of light strands and adapters for the lampposts. However, the grant covers only about one quarter of the total purchase price.

The Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee will need to find funds to cover the rest.

Along with providing lights and fresh greens and organizing the decorating of Main Street, Pioneer Street and Railroad Avenue, the CCCC also brings Santa and Mrs. Claus to stay for the month of December, much to the delight of all the local children.

If you are interested in helping Santa bring a "green Christmas" to Cooperstown, please send your contribution to: Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee, P.O. Box 428, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326.

Peg Leon

Cooperstown

Chili Fest

fun for all

Thanks to the hard work of parents and staff, The Brookwood School’s 8th Annual Chili Fest was a great success!

Children played games and won prizes, painted pumpkins, and bounced the day away. Families enjoyed delectable chili donated by area restaurants and tasty desserts baked by Brookwood parents.

Trooper Mattice was on hand to inspect car seats and give parents advice about child safety in vehicles, and for the first time, attendees could shop for holiday gifts from a variety of vendors.

Everyone welcomed the opportunity to visit with friends and family and to make new friends, as Brookwood volunteers noted that many visitors were attending Chili Fest for the first time!

Special thanks to everyone who donated chili this year. Gary Wehner, Brookwood parent, cooked up a spicy homemade recipe, and the following restaurants donated delicious chili dishes that can be enjoyed year-round by members of the community when they dine out in Cherry Valley, Cooperstown, and Oneonta: Autumn Cafe, The Bean, Doubleday Cafe, Hoffman Lane Bistro, Rose & Kettle, The Fenimore House, The Otesaga, The Tepee, and Yum Yum Shack.

The Brookwood School greatly appreciates the support of everyone who contributed their efforts and expertise to make the 8th annual Chili Fest special.

Thanks!

Cathy Andrews

Assistant Head of School

The Brookwood School

Seeking assistance

I am writing in the hope the community of Cooperstown can help me out.

My name is Patrick Filkins. I was born Patrick Allen in Cooperstown, the youngest of three children.

We were all split up back in 1977, due to our parents’ lack of housing.

I was taken away by Otsego County DSS-CPS; in fact, we all were. I recently found out that my brother, whom I’ve never met before, was adopted five months after I was.

My sister, who is three years older, I have no clue. Well, I am 31 years old now. I have been looking since I turned 18.

Since that time, I have served as a U.S. Marine, firefighter, and father of twin boys (5), a 7-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old son.

I recently suffered two major heart attacks in June. My fiancee is in need and awaiting a heart transplant.

I need to know my medical history.

I am sure that I have relatives in the Cooperstown area (my brother) and family in the Oneonta area, as well as someone in either two areas that knew me, my birth parents, or siblings looking for me.

Currently I am going through the legal process to have my records unsealed for me.

So if anybody out there can help me, it would be so helpful and kind. Thank you.

Patrick "Allen" Filkins

Corning, N.Y.