| Welcome to the Cooperstown Crier |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
2-14-2007 WRITER POSITION The 42nd annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival - held Feb. 8, 9 and 10 - was a huge success, thanks in large part to all of the sponsors, donors and volunteers. The Winter Carnival Committee would like to extend their appreciation to all who played a role in making "Shiver Me Timbers" the outstanding event that it was. Our sponsors: Cooperstown Winter Carnival Founders Level ($1,000+) - Cooperstown Lions Club, Kathy Sinnott Gardner, Richard Devlin, Jr., John M. Muehl and John Lambert, Lamont Engineers, Cooperstown Winter Carnival. Benefactors ($500+) - Jane Forbes Clark, Cooperstown Dreams Park, The Freeman's Journal, Ginsberg's Foods, Inc. Cooperstown Winter Carnival Sponsors ($250+) - ArrowHead Pointe Condominium, Church & Scott Pharmacy, Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, Cooperstown Event Rentals, Dog Wild Canine Supply, Hoffman Lane Bistro, Maines Paper and Food Service, Inc., NBT Bank, NYSHA and the Farmer's Museum, New York Central Mutual, Paraco Gas Corporation, Royal Chrysler, Smith Cooperstown, Inc. Cooperstown Winter Carnival Friends ($100+) - Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown Bed & Breakfast. The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway Corp. Our design and multi-media team: Brochure donated by The Freeman's Journal; Logo design by Brandy Aldrich; Photography by Kami Yasko and Bren Miosek; Web hosting and management donated by Syllables. The venues that hosted weekend events: Clark Sports Center, Cooley's Stone House Tavern, Cooperstown Farmers' Market and Otsego 2000, Cooperstown Veteran's Club, Doubleday Cafe, Hoffman Lane Bistro, O'Hanlans Steakhouse, Templeton Hall and L.M. Townsend Catering; The Tunnicliff Inn. We also greatly thank: CNY Radio, Community Bible Chapel, Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, Cooperstown Crier, Cooperstown Fire Department, Cooperstown Girls Field Hockey, Cooperstown Police Department, The Daily Star, Mark La Valley, Rich McCaffery, National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, Thomas Parrotti, Susquehanna SPCA, Village of Cooperstown. We thank all Carnival Parade entrants, and the local organizations and businesses that hosted events in conjunction with Winter Carnival. Special thanks to the families of Carnival Committee members for all of their help, and to past Carnival Chairs for judging and participating in the weekend's events. Finally, thank you to The Freeman's Journal for their support, and for sponsoring the Medallion Hunt. Elise Schiellack Publicity Chair Farmers' Market a success On behalf of Otsego 2000, I would like to thank everyone who shopped, sold, socialized or harmonized at the Cooperstown Farmers' Market this past year. This market, sponsored and administered by Otsego 2000, is truly the little economic engine that could. Founded in 1991 by Otsego 2000, the purpose of the market is to support sustainable agriculture, to bring fresh produce and homemade products to the greater Cooperstown community, and to encourage entrepreneurship by providing vendors with an inexpensive, centrally-located venue from which to operate and grow. The Cooperstown Farmers' Market itself has grown steadily over the years to become a mainstay of the community, and our vendors have used the market as a springboard for other, diverse, marketing opportunities, including sales to retail shops and restaurants, and establishing an online presence. Thirty-seven growers, producers, crafters, and artisans offered up their wares in the Cooperstown Farmers' Market this past season, rain (snow) or shine, and we hope to welcome back an equal number, at least, in 2008. The market is on hiatus until Mother's Day weekend, when we reopen on May 10. Our customers value the direct connection between producer and consumer that lies at the heart of our market. Otsego 2000 values the many market vendors, performers, shoppers, supporters and staff who have made the Cooperstown Farmers' Market a continued success, and such a pleasure. Thank you all. Darla M. Youngs Associate Director Otsego 2000 Katz deserves second term Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, longtime Speaker of the House, once declared, "All politics is local." As we head toward the summer conventions engaged in a national debate focused on the largescale problems of our country, here in Cooperstown local politics has our more immediate attention. The focal point of the upcoming race for trustees appears to be the issue of paid parking, and Trustee Jeff Katz, who supports the concept, is running for re-election. On Nov. 30 of last year, The Freeman's Journal characterized Katz as one who "became something of a lightning rod for criticism at a stormy public hearing on the proposed paid-parking plan Monday, Nov. 19." I attended that meeting and heard the opposition from a variety of residents. Moreover, I was embarrassed at the vitriolic manner in which the four trustees who voted in favor of the proposal were treated, particularly Mr. Katz. Jeff Katz was primarily accused of two sins: not living in Cooperstown long enough and not listening to the citizens of our village. As to the first accusation, Jeff is guilty. He and his family have been here slightly more that five years. However, in that short period, Jeff has dedicated a great deal of his time, effort and considerable intelligence to enhancing life in his new home. He has been on the board and currently serves as co-Director and Treasurer of the Cooperstown Concert Series. He played a major role working with Jam Productions to bring performers such as Willie Nelson, Herman's Hermits, the Beach Boys and Bob Dylan to town for sum- mer concerts. In 2005, Jeff was elected to the Board of Trustees. As chair of the Doubleday Field Committee, Jeff used his business acumen to identify and analyze untapped sources of income, and one was increasing the fees out-of-town teams pay for use of Doubleday Field. Predicted revenues will begin to help cover the loss to be incurred when the Hall of Fame game ends next year. That brings me to the second accusation; Jeff Katz doesn't listen to the people. This is as untrue as the myth that everyone who works downtown will have to pay $70 a week for parking. There were several other public meetings regarding the paid-parking issue prior to the 11th-hour gathering on Nov. 19. The opinions expressed at the meetings held at the courthouse were solidly in favor of the proposal. Jeff also listened to those whom he encountered in and about town. And he had listened to the major complaints he had heard since first coming to Cooperstown; the same complaints that have become almost a mantra for locals. Taxes are too high and there's no place to park during the summer. Using tourist dollars garnered from premium parking spaces to help defray tax increases seems to be a logical step given those two apparent facts. Jeff Katz also listened to the sentiment of those who attended the "stormy public hearing." Following the meeting the board majority agreed to move very slowly in the implementation of paid parking. Those born here have no monopoly on dedication to Cooperstown. Many of us have gathered useful knowledge from living elsewhere and have brought it with us. Jeff Katz is bright, hardworking, and dedicated to serving this community. We are happy that he and his family live here, and we appreciate what he has contributed so far. Jeff is an exceptional trustee and we urge you to support his bid for a second term. Nancy Potter David Pearlman Cooperstown |
Copyright 2007, Cooperstown Crier, Cooperstown, NY All rights reserved