We’re all tourists sometimes
Each fall my friend from Florida reminds me of the Northeasterners (many from the greater Cooperstown area) who will be ““invading” their small Florida community for the winter/spring. He finds it very amusing, as he keeps in contact with Cooperstown comings and goings, that often times Cooperstown area residents complain about the influx of visitors to our small community. He points out the similarities in attitudesand willingly, of course, shares them.
This helps to remind me to remember that we all are tourists more times than we might realize. Very simply put, a tourist is defined as someone who visits places away from their residence to take advantage of a particular service or benefit that is not available in their home community, and, in most cases, spends money. Home community is where one resides and pays taxes. A tourist, in this instance, is a Cooperstown resident shopping in Oneonta, visiting Albany for a cultural experience, spending a few days in the Adirondacks and so on. It works in reverse too. People not residing in the village of Cooperstown coming here to shop, get gas for their auto and eat a meal can be considered a tourist.
My friend does admit that these seasonal visitors/seasonal residents contribute, in a huge way, to the economic health of the community. This is a similarity that we, village residents, often hear as well.
My friend and I talk about this and concur that life is indeed trade offs. Tourists/visitors spend money to keep our communities robust, employ people, keep Main Streets, robust, contributes generous sales tax revenue, provides businesses/attractions we might not otherwise be able to afford and maintain, to suggest a few. In return we deal with some inconveniences for sure, but adapt a bit differently for a couple months and survive just fine.
I’m appreciative of this annual reminder. Life is good in Cooperstown!
Rich McCaffery
Cooperstown
Welcome, Dreams Park
Yes, the Dreams Park is open, and we are glad! At Portabello’s, in Fly Creek, we welcome our annual influx. Established in 2002, we enjoy the excitement of the busy four corners of Fly Creek while visitors from all over stop in to enjoy the food and ambiance.
Open for lunch every day except Friday, and dinner seven days a week, the Kantors welcome family after family.
For a clerk to say that visitors are loud and rude is a sad commentary. It’s amazing how quiet an empty restaurant is. Personally, I prefer the volume of a full restaurant. Sports, music, and good food all converge at the four corners in Fly Creek.
It’s not that our visitors don’t obey traffic laws, but they are busy staring at the sights. So, if a visitor has a camera around their neck, or are gazing upward, share in their appreciation of the life we often take for granted, and look out for them. See Cooperstown through the eyes of the tourist, and take the time to welcome them to your home town.
Our visitors, coming out of these past years of tough economic times, must spend wisely.
Provide quality products, give value for their hard earned dollars, and they will be appreciative.
We do exist so that kids can come and fulfill their dream of coming to Cooperstown. Their families work all year round to encourage developing athletes, as well as to raise the needed funds to make it all happen.
There is no terror in tourists.
Terror would be the World’s Most Perfect Village bereft of visitors.
Whether you like baseball or not, remember that Cooperstown represents the home of baseball and the American way of life.
Celebrate it and appreciate those who come to pay homage at the shrine of Babe Ruth.
Deborah Kantor
Owner/Operator Portabello’s
Fly Creek
Our Opinion
July 3, 2012
Your Opinion: June 28, 2012
- Our Opinion
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- Congratulations to Lucy Ford for winning a state title Cooperstown's Lucy Ford needed a personal best to win a state title in the high jump Saturday at the New York State Track and Field Championships in Middletown. Ford, a junior, didn't just get her personal best with her jump of 5-feet, 5-inches. She broke her own school record, again, and became the first CCS girl to win a state title in track and field.
- Mother Nature throws Hall a curveball A couple of weeks ago when we wrote that we hoped the date change for the National Baseball Hall of Fame's annual seven-inning exhibition game would be a hit we were not expecting Mother Nature to force an alternative plan all together. Now there is no way to know if the Memorial Day Weekend would have been a better suit as we cannot compare apples to oranges.
- Roses Roses to those who participated and contributed to this year's Cooperstown/Otsego County Relay for Life.
- Hopefully HOF Classic date change is a hit The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual seven-inning exhibition game has seen a drop in attendance in the last couple of year. The Hall of Fame Classic began as a Father’s Day event, was then moved to the Saturday before the holiday, and is now being held on Memorial Day Weekend.
- Congratulations Cooperstown softball It is hard to believe that Cooperstown's softball team had never won a division or playoff title until this week.
- Happy CYB has found a home Cooperstown Youth Baseball has finally found a home. However, it is a bit sad it could not be in the village that is often referred to as the "home of baseball."
- Change is never taken lightly We are glad the Cooperstown Central School Board finally chose a nickname, but were surprised by the plummeting attendance rate at meetings pertaining to the matter. What seemed to be a hot-button issue attracting nearly 100 people for and against a name change at initial meetings seemed to simmer to complete no shows toward the end.
- Tax cap is deceiving As if figuring out one's tax bill isn't mind boggling enough. In its second year of implantation, the 2 percent limit on property tax increases makes things all that more complicated. One cannot just assume his or her individual taxes will not increase more than the cap threshold.
- Earth Festival is a good start to spring We hope Mother Nature brings us some sunshine and spring weather this weekend. But if not, there is a predominantly inside event coming up that should help get visitors thinking about spring.
- Education heading in wrong direction It is good to see that with teachers changing their curriculums to teach for the Common Core State Standards that there is still some hands-on learning going on locally.
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