Craig would serve well

I offer my strongest endorsement for the election of Rosemary Craig to the Otsego Town Board. Her name may be new to the town elections, but she brings considerable experience in governance with six years on the Cooperstown School Board. Having sat alongside her for those years, I can say she will be a strong fiscal conservative, but a person who measures public costs always in context with the purpose and value of what is put before her. She speaks openly in questioning each of these three factors and voices reasoned positions in final debate.

Rosemary will be a reliable addition to the town board in weeding out matters of narrow interest. She keeps people honest, as she is herself, with no motivation other than to be a contributor to responsible and open government.

Anthony Scalici

Cooperstown

CV Health Center losing money

Approximately two years ago I was asked to serve on the Cherry Valley Community Health Center board. I was given to believe that I was being asked because of my 40 years as an accountant and my experience in nonprofit accounting.

When I came on the board, it was determined we were not in compliance with a state requirement for certified audits of the Health Center’s records. An audit firm was immediately engaged and audits for the years 2004 through 2008 were performed.

The results of these audits were sent this year to the town supervisor, Mr. Tom Garretson. When I did not hear about the audits I contacted the auditing firm as a board member to find out the results. I was informed the Cherry Valley Community Health Center has lost $139,753.00 for the past five years.

When I attempted to bring this situation up at the September town board meeting, I was told by the town supervisor it was not the place to discuss this matter. Since somehow the Town of Cherry Valley has managed to cover these losses, I felt it was the place to address this situation. I also attempted to advise the town supervisor that, based on the financial information available, the losses are continuing this year, 2009.

I believe the taxpayers have a right to this information and decide whether the Town continues to fund the Heath Center and to question how these losses have been covered by the town for the past five years.

There are three courses of action that the taxpayers can demand concerning the Heath Center’s operation:

1. Have the towns involved in the establishment of the Health Center pay their share of the losses and cover an additional loss each year.

2. Approach Bassett Healthcare and have the hospital operate the Health Center.

3. Close the Cherry Valley Community Health Center.

It is up to the taxpayers of Cherry Valley to determine the course of action they wish to see happen, not the town supervisor. After all, it is we who are paying for the Health Center’s continuation. The final question we the taxpayers should be asking is how the town’s budget is prepared where the Health Center is always shown as balanced, with revenue equaling costs.

Because the town supervisor failed to keep the members of the Cherry Valley Community Health Center board informed, and for that matter the town board and taxpayers; I have resigned as a board member.

Richard Mark

Cherry Valley

Thanks for donations

The Cooperstown Leo Club wishes to thank the generous members of our community who donated food and cash at our Food Drive on Oct. 10 and 11. We are also very grateful to the management and staff for hosting this and all our past efforts to gather provisions for those in need. It is wonderful to know that Cooperstown residents do not neglect those less fortunate.

David Pearlman

Leo Club Advisor

Budget Officer may not be necessary

The long history of problems between the Otsego County Board of Trustees and the office of County Treasurer have led to the call for a trained professional to help manage our County budget and the treasurer’s office. I believe that we definitely need help and a return to confidence in our elected County Treasurer, and as a long time supporter of professional management for Otsego County Government, I continue to support the position of County Manager. However, I am suggesting that it may not be necessary to hire or support the position of Budget Officer.

I believe that idea of a Budget officer may be a specific response to an individual issue that may no longer be a concern after the November election. This year Otsego County is fortunate to have Dan Crowell running for the position of County Treasurer. Dan is a member of our community and a graduate of Cooperstown Central School. He is a fire fighter and local volunteer. Dan Crowell is a published author on community development issues, who has experience working with the same kind of software that Otsego County currently uses. Dan Crowell, a Fulbright Scholar, has extensive training and practical experience in both public and private financial planning, economic analysis and business development. To learn more about Dan Crowell or to contact him you can go to his web site. http://www.crowell4treasurer. com/

I believe that the Otsego County Board should delay any discussion or decision to hire more help for the County Treasurer or Budget until after the election. If we are fortunate enough to elect a person with Dan Crowell’s impressive credentials, experience and background we may not need that professional position. We will have just voted for it.

Henry J. Nicols

Cooperstown

Chamber says thanks

I would like to thank the many businesses and community members who participated in the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce 2009 PumpkinFest. Our community support is what makes this event possible year after year. This year’s event had a record attendance in the range of 4- 5,000 over the course of the two days First, thank you to our Board of Directors and to our PumpkinFest committee who has worked since the springtime to coordinate and plan the event. Committee members included:

Angela Chadwell, Becky Davidson- Nielsen, Mike DeSimone, Jane Duel, Scott Dunlop, Janice Eichler, John Lohan, Andrew Marietta, Susan O’Handley, Margaret Savoie, Donna Shipman and Deb Taylor. A special mention to the following for all of their time and dedicated hard work: Bruce Hall; Bob Faller; Mike DeSimone; John Lohan; all of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce staff; Randy and Deb Sundstrom; Andy Wolf; Tom Privatera; and Mike the Scale guy!

Thank you also to all of our event sponsors who contributed with financial support, in-kind donations, and implementation support: Otsego County Tourism Program, Arrow- Head Pointe Condominiums, Bruce Hall True Value Home Center, Cooperstown Concert Series, New York State Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, Pennysaver, Syracuse.com, Cooperstown Crier/The Daily Star, Hampton Inn, Howard Johnson Inn & Suites, Davidson’s Jewelry/Augur’s Bookstore, Gordon B. Roberts Agency, Hickory Grove Motor Inn, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Smith Cooperstown, WL Taylor & Son, 2 Chestnut B&B;, Ann’s Woodcrafts, Barlow’s Concessions, Best Western Inn & Suites, Church and Scott, Cooperstown Cookie Company, Cooperstown General Store, Cooperstown Youth Baseball, Danny’s Market, Doubleday Cafe, Extreme Pumpkin Store, Farmers Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Glimmerglass Opera, Holdredge Enterprises, Hot Rods Barbecue, Iversen Arts, Janice Wnuk, John Mitchell Real Estate, Kingsley Design, Longhorn Ranch, Mad Dogs Big Top BBQ, Poetic Lenses, Red Carpet Inn & Suites, Scoville- Meno Honda, TePee Pete’s Chow Wagon, Wood Embossments, Aalsmeer Motel and Cottages, Bank of Cooperstown, Bayside Inn and Marina, Birnie Bus Company, Cancer Services Program, Cooperstown Baseball Bracelet, Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, Hubbell’s Real Estate, Leatherstocking Regional Federal Credit Union, NBT Bank, Tin Bin Alley, 1805 Phinney House, Barnyard Swing, Clark Sports Center, CVS, Farm and Field, Freeman’s Journal, Inn at Cooperstown, Kids Care Club, Northern Catskill Dental Associates, The Otesaga Resort Hotel.

Thank you also to our volunteers Jeff Chadwell, Jim Donnelly, Sherrie Kinglsey, Tom Lyon, Rich McCaffery, Michael Naso, Bonnie Neu, Jeff O’Handley, Margaret O’Handley, Mike Otis, John Peterson, Alison Weber, Courtney Yonce, & Emily Yonce.

A special thank you also to the Village of Cooperstown and staff for all their help and support, and also to Polly Renckens, former Director for conceptualizing and working to implement the first Cooperstown PumpkinFest six years ago!

Please know that any errors or omissions are not intentional.

Susan O’Handley, Executive Director of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce