Supports Guitar Hall

What a tribute to Cooperstown that such an internationally- renowned personage as Mr. Arlen Roth would seek to develop his dream in our village! One can only hope that Cooperstown’s burghers will work with Mr. Roth in a positive and constructive way to ensure that his Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum is established in our village.

John A. Rudy

Cooperstown

Ticket was unfair

Cooperstown is a culturally and geographically rich place to visit, full of charm and history. We drove from our country inn in Round Top to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 22.

We arrived, after a lovely 2-hour journey via Rt 23, and noticed that parking was a challenge.

We waited until a car left a spot and pulled in. We noted that the parking sign read “2 Hour Parking 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.” and a smaller blue sign beneath it read “Free Parking.”

Being residents of New York City and its environs, where parking is a costly endeavor, we could not believe our good fortune. So we asked some people nearby, who confirmed this, but cautioned us to watch our time, since the police were vigilant.

The time was 11:55 am. The walk to the Baseball Hall of Fame was 5 minutes. We waited in line to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame, and received tickets at 12:10 pm. Our visit lasted an hour: our gift shop purchases were stamped 1:15 pm. “Terrific!” we cheered, “We still have over a half hour left to retrieve the car, and then move it to a new parking spot and have lunch!”

But, lo and behold, there was a parking ticket beneath the windshield wiper, for $35., written at 1:00 pm, stating that we parked longer than two hours. How could this be?!

We were outraged and angry, and sought to find the police officer who wrote the ticket. Finally, after a half hour of searching, we found him, a very tall, older gentleman. We asked him why he issued this ticket? He responded, “The man in the store complained that the car was parked more than two hours in front of his store.” We said, “But, he lied! We have evidence of our trip to the Hall of Fame! Who is this man?”

Turns out that this man is the owner of Metro Cleaners & Coin Laundry. This man has decided to make up his own rules about parking in Cooperstown: he has posted a sign on the facade of his storefront stating “Customer Parking Only.” He is harassing tourists and lying to the police.

He is listed as a member of the Chamber. Yet he is in violation of its Mission Statement “...promote tourism.”

We suggest that he not be allowed membership in this prestigious organization; that the local police take action about his self made parking sign, and that all of the police refuse to listen to this man about legitimate tourists parking and enjoying the riches of Cooperstown.

Perhaps this man should re-locate his cleaning/laundromat business to a more suitable location--one where his clientele can park in front of his storefront.

His maverick and malicious approach to well-meaning tourists is quite disturbing.

Paul Portoghese

Roberta Kuehl

New York City

Thanks for support

On behalf of the Leatherstocking Sheepdog Trials committee, I would like to thank all of you who came out to support our event during the hot weekend of August 14, 15, and 16, 2009.

We were all amazed at the amount of people that felt watching our wonderful, working dogs was worth sitting in the hot sun for. Next year we will have an additional tent for viewing that will provide shade from sun and also rain protection. We would like to extend a big thank you and many ``wags’’ to our sponsor, Dog Wild Canine Supply of Cooperstown.

We also would like to thank The Clark Foundation for use of their field with special thanks to their employees Rudy Burkhart and Joe Miller for their invaluable assistance. Thanks go out to the Fly Creek United Methodist Church and all their volunteers for providing great food all weekend and to all the local businesses that support us with advertising in our brochure.

Thanks to the local vendors that attended: Butternut Valley Spinners, Greetings by Gosh, and Margaret with her ice cream truck.

Thanks also to Bennett Motors of Fly Creek for their generous donation of their farm utility vehicle that took us on numerous trips up and down the hill and to Dr. Fran Fassett for being our emergency vet-on-call.

Much appreciated were donations from Cooperstown Natural Foods, Brewery Ommegang and Brier Street Pottery of East Merideth, NY.

This is truly a great community! Thank ``ewe’’ one and all, from the sheep, the dogs and all of us.

Linda Hotchkiss

Trial Manager

Hartwick, NY

Disappointed in decision

I was disheartened to learn that our Board of Trustees has decided to reduce funding to our Village Police Department. I’m concerned that this decision may result in negative consequences for our community.

I believe, and statistics will bear me out, that the greater Police presence, the lesser result in crime; it is indeed a deterrent.

We should not place a price on the safety of our citizens. I do understand these are difficult economic timesáand difficult decisions must be made.

However, in saving $38,000, we have made ourselves vulnerable to a potential increase in crime to lives and property and, therefore, an even greater economic loss.

Our community is very fortunate to have our own Police Department as it could take up to 45 minutes to have an outside police response. I would ask our Board of Trustees, for whom I hold in the highest respect for their tireless work and effort, to reconsider and restore these funds to our Village Police Department.

Richard D. Abbate

Cooperstown

Who’s paying for reform?

Question to Congress: We pay for your Health Care — where is ours? It is amazing to me how many people in the United States do not realize that a part of our taxes paid annually to the Federal and State Government go toward paying our elected officials’ health care premiums.

That’s right. We the People are providing the President, Vice President, Senators and Representatives, as well as officials at the State and local levels of government with their health care.

Amazing, isn’t it? What’s more amazing is that it’s not for them personally, but for their families as well.

My recommendation to our elected officials to help pay for the cost of a national health care coverage for all Americans is: Start Paying for Your Own!

To the people who are against universal health care coverage for fear that it will become a government run bureaucratic system:

Hey, you’re already covered by a health care industry bureaucracy making those decisions which you fear your government will make.

Do you trust the employees of the health care industry who are driven by a profit motive more than the people you elected to office?

For the people who struggle to make their health care premium payments and for those who do without any medical insurance, do you care which doctor is assigned to you, or is it more important to have your health issues addressed for you families? At least there will be a doctor available to you.

Don’t give into the scare tactics of the lobbyists and opposition groups opposed to providing American citizens with their right of national health care coverage. When they do oppose, ask them who pays for their health care.

I sure bet they don’t.

Paula Bugonian

Cooperstown