Soros helped schoolchildren
On Aug. 18, one of your lead articles was "Funds to aid poor." This article was written about a special program that was organized to provide families who receive food stamps or who have open public assistance cases with $200 per child to purchase school supplies and clothing for their children to help them get ready to go back to school.
I want to applaud George Soros for his generous gift of $35 million, which made this program a reality. He took the time to think about children and how important it is for all children to have school supplies and some new clothing when they go back to school. Lower-income families don't have the funds to purchase many new items of clothing or school supplies for their children. As a result, children start off the year without these things. Rather than having feelings of strong self-confidence and good esteem that provide the building blocks that are so important for future successes, children may be more worried about what they are unable to bring to school.
For more than 15 years, The Family Service Association, working with the Oneonta Clothing Guild, area churches, United Way, area colleges and individual contributors, has made school supplies and new items of clothing available to children in lower-income families and families dealing with crisis. We have seen the joy on children's faces when they are encouraged to choose some new school supplies, and we have seen the look of relief on their parents' faces when they know their children will have some of the things they need for that first day.
Again, thank you to George Soros for supporting children!
Mary O'Connor
Oneonta
O'Connor is the executive director of The Family Service Association.
Vote for experience in treasurer race
The Daily Star article of Sept. 1 titled "Petitions disqualified in Otsego" declared my Republican opponent "the winner of the Republican primary."
I would like to remind everyone that the primary election is Sept. 15. At that time, the voters of Otsego County will decide the winner of the Republican primary for the position of Otsego County Treasurer. Do not be misled; I am still very much in this race.
With the recent economic downturn, Otsego County will be facing many financial challenges in the near future, which will affect every resident of this county. This year, perhaps more than ever before, it is important for the voters to be familiar with the character of the candidates seeking this important office and the real issues we are facing. It is critical that voters choose the candidate based on qualifications of experience that counts and the ability to lead during these complex times, while advocating for you the taxpayer. No matter who you decide to support, please be an informed voter and participate not only in the general election on Nov. 3, but also the primary election on Sept. 15.
In the meantime, I would like to invite you to visit my website at www.thaynefortreasurer.com and contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Myrna Thayne
Mount Vision
Thayne is Otsego County treasurer.
Changes to passes hurt Delaware Fair
I would like to address a few concerns regarding this year's Delaware County Fair. I feel eliminating the discount exhibitors' passes had a large impact on the reduced amount of entries this year. This was very noticeable with the quilts displayed. There was so much room between quilts that you couldn't help asking, "What happened?" They were displayed very nicely, but there could have been more of them.
I would also like to ask, why do you not have people with expertise in a special field judging? You have people who know about cows judging cows. I feel you should have people with knowledge of foods judging foods. What would it take to get a teacher from the State University College of Technology at Delhi's food department to be a judge? Having people strolling through the building become judge is not only wrong but unhealthy. You don't know where they've been or what they've been eating before judging foods.
I will say, overall, I and my family had a good time at this year's Delaware County Fair. I hope Mr. Gary Tweedie and the fair board return the discounted exhibitors pass next year. I feel the discount would allow more people to enter items and, therefore, bring even more visitors to the fair to show off their talents and maybe even ribbons.
Maria Costa
DeLancey
Mixed messages by our government
How does one explain how the government can promote both the homosexual lifestyle and health care reform at the same time? A promiscuous lifestyle leads to sexually transmitted diseases and infections, which often lead to chronic and potentially fatal diseases, ranging from hepatitis to HIV/AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that "chronic diseases account for 75 percent of United States' national health care expenditures." What reason does the government have for promoting behavior that has major repercussions on an individual's quality of life. as well as the cost to taxpayers?
One also has to wonder, why there has not been an outcry from the homosexual lobby regarding the health care reform plan. The Center for Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, which would be a federal board, (found in a current Democratic bill) _ would decide, as Nat Hentoff of the Cato Institute wrote, "whether your quality of life, regardless of your political party, merits government-controlled funds to keep you alive." Someone with HIV/AIDS may not qualify for rationed health care.
I hope our government legislators will take the time and make the effort to carefully examine what the true impact of their legislation will be, before signing them into law.
Arline Saiki
Edmeston
Saiki is director of the Abstinence Education Council in Oneonta.
Dick Miller logical choice for mayor
Oneonta is lucky to have Dick Miller running for mayor. He is the only candidate with a clear record of proven leadership. His recent experience as president of Hartwick College, as the chief operating officer of SUNY colleges, and as a volunteer leader for the city of Oneonta's Comprehensive Plan has provided him with a valuable skill-set that will allow him to excel as our mayor.
Upon retirement from being a successful president at Hartwick College, Dick purchased a rundown house in Center City. He renovated it and moved his family in. He is part of our community with a commitment, and passion, that is unmatched.
Whether you are voting in the Sept. 15 Democratic primary or the general election in November, if you analyze the credentials, qualifications and experience of the candidates, I believe you will come to the same conclusion that I have come to _ that Dick Miller is the logical choice for mayor. He has my vote and I hope you will consider voting for him also.
Donna Foti
Oneonta
Letter shouldn't have been published
Can the editor explain to me why a letter as ugly, ignorant, and racist as Herbert Faulkner's is published? Aside from the nature and tone of the letter, and going beyond just common sense, it also should be rejected because of The Daily Star's own written rule that statements that "make unverifiable accusations of behavior" will not be printed.
Patricia S. Hennessy
South Hartwick
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