Pick Dick to help revitalize Main St.
We moved to Oneonta from Ithaca in the summer of 1966. Here we found a wonderful community of good people, two growing and developing colleges, an excellent school system and every reason to think that there was a bright future of positive change and growth. Oneonta was then, and is now, a good place.
We looked forward to Thursday nights and Saturdays on a thriving Main Street. We shopped and met friends. Main Street was Oneonta's social center.
No longer. Not for decades.
It has been years since Main Street was either a social center or shopping center. Empty storefronts attract little business.
What created a nearly desolate Main Street is a topic for a thesis. Simply, Main Street has suffered economic erosion.
Good people have tried to bring it back. The few restaurants and shops there today offer evidence that Main Street regrowth is possible. It is not necessary to shop in Albany and Binghamton!
Good people have tried and are trying to re-create Oneonta's commercial center.
A thriving Oneonta is what is at stake in the mayoral election.
Dick Miller's credentials, from Hartwick College president, chief operating officer of SUNY, CEO of Case-Hoyt, and decorated Vietnam veteran put him head and shoulders above the competition.
But, Dick's most important credential is his love of Oneonta! He is a student of our history, of our successes and failures and of our future.
Ask Dick about Oneonta _ then listen and learn as we have done.
Listen to his insight; to his clear ideas for our future _ while maintaining the best of our past. And hear his great sense of humor.
We will vote for Dick Miller and hope you will as well.
We look forward to enjoying Main Street again!
Pick Dick!
Marge and Frank O'Mara
Oneonta
Clarifying race for Middlefield justice
In regards to the recent articles in your paper, concerning the town justice for the town of Middlefield, being one of the candidates, I feel I must respond.
In one article, my opponent claimed to have been endorsed by the Democratic Party of Middlefield. To my knowledge no such meeting was held, at least other Democrats were unaware of it.
I submitted my petition a bit later. I found out my opponent challenged it, and it was declared invalid. I was then informed I could run as an independent. I secured the required number of signatures and resubmitted the new petition. Again, my opponent challenged it. The few faults found were "petty." As you stated, my name was returned to the ballot after hiring an attorney.
Please voters, make sure to get out and vote on Election Day. You decide who gets the job. My 30 years will be up at the end of December.
Raymond E. Burr
Middlefield
Keep person with experience as clerk
Please allow this letter to serve as an official endorsement of Pam Deane for clerk for the town of Otsego. With 20 years of dedicated service, Pam does her job well without favoritism or prejudice, always with a smile and with a level of knowledge and experience unmatched by most other clerks in the area.
I have known Pam Deane for more than 15 years and have had the pleasure of working with her for four years during my tenure as supervisor of the town of Otsego. I know of no other person in whom the concept of public service is more strongly personified. She is always available, either during her regular office hours or by phone call to her home. She is a doer and not a delegator, providing access to critical services for the residents of the town of Otsego.
With the town board proposing to eliminate medical coverage for Pam and some other employees (although those others will receive monetary compensation instead), Pam will still continue to provide the same excellent level of service to town residents. This includes issuing permits and licenses, providing information on town regulations and continuing to assemble the myriad warrants necessary for the town board to operate.
To lose Pam as town clerk would be to lose a valuable servant, a wealth of history and experience and an approachable, genial member of the town of Otsego. I urge you to support Pam Deane for town clerk and keep the one person with experience working for us.
Gary Kuch
Cooperstown
City of Oneonta needs Dick Miller
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Dick Miller will have my vote as the Democratic candidate for Oneonta's mayor. Having been honored to serve as mayor for eight years, I know firsthand the breadth and depth of experience and knowledge necessary to tackle the challenges that we face in our small city. And as the larger economic picture continues to create greater financial issues for local government, it will be as crucial as ever that the person who is elected mayor of Oneonta has the skills, creativity, tenacity, innovative perspective and network to access the resources _ financial and human _ to effectively lead our city.
Dick Miller's connections with individuals in business and government will enable him to forge partnerships that are the key to success in strengthening our economy. He has a track record of leadership in large institutions that gives him the understanding of how to function in a position that requires oversight of diverse operations. Dick Miller has the financial knowledge that will allow him to evaluate the multitude of demands on our taxpayer dollars so that they are invested to make Oneonta an even more special place to live, work, play and raise a family.
And, last but far from least, I'm voting for Dick Miller because he truly loves Oneonta. You can hear it in his voice when he talks about sustaining safe, attractive neighborhoods, creating a vibrant downtown, and taking the steps needed to forge a strong future for our city. Oneonta needs Dick Miller as our next mayor. I ask all Democrats to please join me in voting for Dick Miller in the Primary Election on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Kim Muller
Oneonta
City must clean up pond in Neahwa
I am writing in regards to the unsightly nasty pond in Neahwa Park. If I were the mayor and leadership of this city I would be thoroughly embarrassed by the way the pond looks. With all the local and out-of-town people who pass through the park or stop for a picnic, concert, ballgame, etc., the look of the pond is disgusting. This should have been cleaned up and dealt with years ago, but it has not been as is very evident.
The city at times gets some of there priorities mixed up. That pond should be a big priority considering the talk of a Veterans Memorial Park being built next to it. No ducks, geese, fish or water falls now there. All that is there is a nasty, ugly, unsightly milfoil pond.
I am sure there are treatments and/or a solution for the pond but this has been going on for too many years. If the city has no one with the understanding or knowledge of how to clean it up correctly once and for all, then let's hire an outside agency that specializes in this sort of thing and get it cleaned up so all can enjoy the park and pond. If that is too difficult or costly to do, then fill it in and plant flowers and trees on it. Better yet, build the Veterans Memorial across it.
John N. Baranowski
Oneonta
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