The Otschodela Council, Boy Scouts of America, along with our Scouting for Food Chairpersons Kathy Sellers and Barbara Rothenberg, want to sincerely thank the Scouts, leaders, parents and community members for helping to make the 2007 Scouting for Food Drive a success. Our Scouting for Food project had another successful year, collecting over 43,000 items for local food pantries in 38 communities. This Good Turn for America activity involved over 725 Scouts and 500 adults.

Thank you very much to all of our communities for the generous food donations and to Mead Westvaco, Price Chopper Supermarkets, The Daily Star, Tri Town News, Central NY Radio Group and WCDO Radio for helping to make this project a huge success. For more information on Scouting for Food and other service projects of the Boy Scouts of America visit www.goodturnforamerica.org.

Otschodela Council

Boy Scouts of America

Supports paid parking

Bravo to Katz, Kuhn, Kull, and Mebust, who voted for paid parking in Cooperstown. Many people don’t realize it, but the police committee spent a huge amount of time and energy studying the different parking issues facing Cooperstown. They thoroughly researched different options, and how different aspects of the plan would impact residents, merchants, and tourists, and tried to balance the wants and needs of village residents with the needs of the village itself.

Back in October, the trustees held two informational meetings to educate the public about the proposed parking plan. During those meetings, they gave a thorough overview of the different aspects of the plan, as well as the reasoning behind each detail of the plan. They also sought public input. There was a good turnout at those public meetings, and the overwhelming majority of the people who attended were enthusiastically for paid parking in Cooperstown. Some constructive ideas and suggestions were given to the trustees during those meetings, and the police committee fine-tuned the proposed law to incorporate some of those suggestions.

Many of the people speaking out against paid parking (through lawn signs and/or at the recent Board meeting at CCS) did not attend those informational meetings. In the weeks before the vote, I talked with many people who were very outspoken against paid parking. A majority of them didn’t know the details of the parking plan, and in fact had a lot of misinformation about it. Maybe the police committee could have done a better job of educating the public about the details, but it seems to me they did their part. Individuals who felt strongly about the issue of parking should have made the effort to go to one of the informational meetings. At the very least, they should have read the paper to gain an understanding of the issue.

Unfortunately, the loudest voices at the Board meeting last week were the ones opposed to paid parking; however, there are many village residents, and even some merchants, who wholeheartedly support paid parking in Cooperstown. Those voices were not as loud, but thankfully they were heard. I applaud the trustees for listening to all of their constituents, not just the ones with the loudest voices. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but they did what they thought was best for Cooperstown. Now let’s move on!

Jeanne Dewey

Cooperstown

Paid parking will add revenue

Good manners never go out of style, but they left the room quickly at the public hearing on paid parking, held in the high school auditorium. An organized opposition to the parking discussion at hand was in attendance, which gave credibility to their cause. Early on, those who spoke against parking were civil, and many posed insights that were met with applause. Soon, however, a few speakers became disrespectful, derogatory and insulting. They, too, unfortunately, were applauded. It was then that credibility grabbed his coat and hat in hopes of catching a ride with good manners, who was exiting the building along with civility and mutual respect.

A chronology of parking and Cooperstown was given at the start of the meeting, and it is obvious that parking has been in the sights of residents and elected officials here for many decades. Past proposals have often been met with a ``read-aim-aim-aim’’ approach, and nothing came of them. I support the trustees’ decision to pull the trigger on this opportunity to turn a problem into a benefit.

For what amounts to 83 cents a month, a yearly parking pass can be obtained. For three months a year, Main Street’s ``anchor tenant’’ brings in most of its 300,000 to 400,000 people; that is when the paid parking will be in effect. Revenue, which is not a four-letter word, comes into the village as a result of the anchor’s drawing power. The cars will be here whether we charge for parking, or not. This new law gives Cooperstown, and those who live and work here, a bit more control over their financial future. If approached with optimism, both tradition and innovation can guide the implementation of this first step in the parking solution.

Rich Campbell

Cooperstown

Dirty politics

won election

I am sorry I didn’t get this letter in last week, while the elections were fresh in mind, but this is worth saying anytime.

I was a strong supporter of Philip Durkin, who had been our county representative for Cherry Valley, Roseboom and Middlefield.

The day before Nov. 6, one of his opponents sent out two statements full of half-truths and misrepresentations. Phil had no time to respond, and of course, the opponent won.

Never have I seen in our district such shameless dirty politics.

Now I am waiting with anticipation to see if the winner will give us the on-line minutes of each town board meeting and of the county representative meetings, and if he will attend each, as Phil did, whenever possible. We had really refreshing open government. And, finally, I am most interested in seeing how he’s going to ``clean up the mess in Cooperstown,’’ as he promises to do.

Nancy Waller

Roseboom

Regulations needed

Trapping season begins this weekend, and wildlife by the tens of thousands will be victimized by this violent sport. According to the Bureau of Wildlife, there is no limit to the number of bobcats, coyotes, fishers, foxes, minks, muskrats, opossums, raccoons, skunks or weasels a trapper can legally kill. Given this lack of regulation, it is no wonder why the populations of certain species, muskrats for example, are declining nationwide.

The traps used by trappers are anything but humane. Steel jaw leghold traps are so violent and cruel that they have been banned in 89 countries, and Conibear traps hold animals until they suffocate or drown. The American Veterinary Medical Association considers drowning an animal an inhumane practice.

The time has come to usher in a new era of wildlife management that emphasizes wildlife protection and preservation over exploitation and violence. The hobby of wildlife watching has the ability to support such a shift in the modus operandi of the DOC, since wildlife watchers in the Empire State outnumber hunters and trappers by a margin of more than five to one. To learn what you can do to live in peaceful coexistence with wildlife, visit www.wildwatch.org.

Joe Miele, Vice President

Wildlife Watch, Inc.

New Paltz, N.Y.

Trustees made right call

An elected public official has a tough job. It’s especially challenging if one is conscientious, hard working and does their homework. Possessing these qualities sometimes works against them as certain constituents, and yes, some public officials, do not garner the same insight and tend to just react to what’s heard on the surface. I’m not exempt from this statement.

The Village Public Hearing on Monday evening, Nov. 19 was testimony to a great deal of public expression concerning the proposed ``pay and display’’ parking in the Village of Cooperstown. Never did I express to my elected Village Trustees how I wished they would vote for the issue. I was, however, quite certain as to their stance, as I follow such matters carefully.

What they did do, I believe, was to vote on behalf of the best interest of the Village given the information they possess; that’s what I expect when someone is elected. After all, they live here too! I, at any time, throughout any particular process, feed my information to appropriate Trustees for consideration. Sometimes it’s followed; other times it’s off-base, and I realize that later, as new information is realized and/or it’s connected to a host of other ramifications. That’s part of the Trustees’ job: process information, as diverse as it is, see the big picture and utilize this knowledge to make the best and most informed decisions. It’s often a sensitive balancing act in an attempt to do what one thinks is the right thing and keep a fair amount of constituents content.

I believe from what I’ve seen in other communities, and will hold the Trustees accountable for, these ``pay and display’’ machines will not detract from the historical character of the Village. Since I never had an alternative suggestion, or more likely didn’t take the time to think of one, it’s refreshing to see this proposal get the ``go ahead.’’ This initiative should not be a deterrent to our visitor base, which we recognize is so important to strengthen the local economy, but should help build a financial base to accommodate our demanding infrastructure needs.

I have absolutely no problem, in fact am more than willing, with investing in a $10 permit for 12 months (that’s about 83 cents per month), and my life will be business as usual. Hey, maybe I’ll even walk more. That certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Rich McCaffery

Cooperstown

Paid parking makes sense

In fairness, I must preface these remarks by saying that I arrived at Monday’s (Nov. 19) forum on paid parking at 8:30 p.m., or so, having attended the CCS soccer dinner before. When I arrived, it was clear that those at the meeting were overwhelmingly against paid parking and I listened carefully to what they had to say. Having worked in the school system for as long as I did, I noticed many of the same folks who have ardently voiced their concerns over the school taxes required to maintain our system.

While the civility of the crowd was admirable, I was again distressed by the misinformation I heard repeated by several members of the audience. When making a decision such as this one, there is nothing more important than knowing the facts and not being misled by myth. Monday’s meeting made it clear that we need to debunk the myths and develop informed opinions. While I realize this is an emotionally charged issue, it should not be.

Regardless of how long some of us have lived here, and that seemed to be a yardstick of credibility, I think everyone who spoke, and many who didn’t, love this village and want what is best for it. With that in mind, we need to examine the facts. Some of the myths that were used in the argument against the law went like this: "We will have to pay $2 to park to get a doughnut and coffee. Minimum wage earners will have to pay $10 per day to park downtown. Prices will have to go up to pay for parking permits for workers. Permits will only be sold at times when they’re hard to get." These simply are not the facts.

Anyone may purchase a parking permit for $10 per year, which, if the typical

work year is 50 weeks, means the charge is 20 cents per week, or 4 cents a day. If the employers pick up the tab for their employees’ permits, even one with 10 workers would be facing only a 40 cents per day increase in overhead, hardly justification for raising prices. Regarding the times of permit sales, "Permits are available for purchase on weekdays during normal business hours. In addition, the Village Clerk may schedule occasional evening and weekend hours ..." I am confident that anyone who lives in the area (however that is defined) will be able to buy a permit with little inconvenience, and I suggest that permits go on sale one month before paid parking takes effect to avoid an unnecessary rush on village offices. Everything that I have gleaned about the permit system leads me to believe that the trustees took care to make obtaining a permit as easy for area residents as it will be difficult for summer tourists.

While the concern that Doubleday Field will no longer offer free (or permit) parking is legitimate, this lot has serious earning potential and the trustees have established an alternate site that has an estimated 40 spaces for the exclusive use of permit holders. This is not perfect, but it should be something we can live with for three months a year, and overnight parking will still be free for those who live on Main Street.

Another concern I have heard downtown is that the imposition of parking fees will drive away tourism and, once gone, the tourists will never return.

I can only speak from what I know, but this doesn’t make a lot of sense to me given the nature of our summer tourists. These tourists are not the same ones who visited before the Dreams Park came to town. In fact, examination of attendance figures at the Hall before and after the establishment of the Dreams Park, suggests that the new tourists simply replaced many of those who used to come here. Some of the more emotional appeals came from people who validated their opinions by stating how long they had lived here or how far back their Cooperstown heritage ran. I understand the importance (and often discomfort) of witnessing change. But I think it can be equally important to have lived elsewhere. I have, and I watched the business district of my hometown (Watertown, N.Y.) crumble as businesses closed when the population shrank. One merchant recalled the presence of shoe stores and groceries on Main Street. I know of few businesses that ever close because they were making a lot of money. The fact is they closed because people found it cheaper to do their shopping elsewhere. Many bemoaned the proliferation of "baseball" shops, and while there probably are too many, they are still better than empty stores with plywood in the windows. One downtown merchant who owns baseball-related businesses implored the Hall of Fame to take care of parking because "they started this problem in the first place." The fact is the Hall is the reason that he has business, and that is the same for most of Main Street.

As I said at the meeting, I think the trustees need to take small steps, but anyone reading the law will see that it states that the village "may establish Paid Parking Areas." It does not specify when, or to what extent. Nor does it specify meters or any other type of method. In the years I have lived in Cooperstown, the overwhelming complaints have been high taxes and a shortage of Main Street parking. This is a step to use the premium parking spaces to make some money, which we hope will defray some of the tax burden.

We can’t have it both ways. Taxes will continue to rise. No one is paying the same price for anything they did in "the good old days." How much they rise will be dependent on finding alternate sources of revenue, and using tourist dollars makes a lot of sense.

David Pearlman

Cooperstown