Published: October 22, 2009 07:51 am      

Letters to the Editor: October 22, 2009

Sock Hop was poorly planned

My comment is about the Sock Hop at the Moose Club Saturday, Oct. 17, in Oneonta. The entertainers were great. But if you attended it to have a wonderful time, you didn't.

The seats were so crowded together, I, for one, spent the whole time there popping up and down like a jumping jack to allow people in and out of our aisle. The dance floor was SO crowded you needed to be wearing "football padding" to even approach it and NOT get hurt.

If you enjoy going out and sitting SO close to the person next to you that you couldn't get a sheet of paper between you, I guess you could have thought maybe it was OK. But it sure was not fun. The only planning done was to crowd as many people into a small space as possible.

Bad event, bad time, bad planning. Sorry, but that's the truth.

Nancy Entrup

Oneonta

Political signs belong to town

Political signs belonging to Town of Middlefield highway superintendent candidates Bob Jorgensen Jr., Matt Barra and Tim Dubben have been stolen and/or vandalized. The signs are an out-of-pocket expense. They are not cheap.

The reason they are put along the road is so voters are aware of their choices, not so others can play games or feel they have any power in the election.

Bob, Matt and Tim are friends. They are not making this a fight. They want the people to decide on Nov. 3. If you would like your opinion to count, vote!

Elise Jorgensen

Roseboom

Obey residential speed limits

I am writing to ask any reader who goes 55 to 60 miles per hour through residential areas, to please stop and think about it. What if you hit a kid? You would have that on your conscience for your whole life.

I am sure people who do this don't care at all about killing dogs and cats, but again, I ask you to think about the people they belong to and the heartache you cause them. Studies show that old people with pets live longer. For some people who are shut-ins, their pet is their best friend, is with them all day, gives them unconditional love, sleeps with them and is their constant companion. Children, too, get very close to pets.

Even if you don't care about the animals at all, stop and think about the grief and tears of the child who finds them dead in the road. And there is always the possibility of hitting children when you go 60 mph right through a small town in 30 mph zones.

Sarah Odom

Gilbertsville

Nobel honor is sign of hope

The Nobel prize committee's awarding of the Peace Prize to President Obama bespeaks hope, optimism and a belief in transforming change.

Before the world can be changed creative and positively, we must believe in that possibility, belief and hope that the president embodies. Yes, we could. Yes, we did. Yes, we can!

Norma Hutman

Oneonta

Liddle would make good town justice

Andy Liddle is the best candidate to replace retiring Judge June Sheehan for Oneonta Town Justice. I have known Andy for more than 40 years and I know he will do a great job. Just his experience with the criminal justice system alone makes him qualified to be a town justice. He has extensive law enforcement and legal experience beginning as a state trooper right here in Oneonta.

He was a department head at Hartwick College where he was in charge of security for the college, among other responsibilities. He was a private investigator, a paralegal and legal assistant for several attorneys in Oneonta and has also served as an expert witness. He was a deputy inspector general for New York state and then became the first assistant commissioner for public safety for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. A majority of his working career has been involved with the criminal justice system in one way or another.

His Democratic opponent is a career letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Who would you rather have? The choice is easy. A vote for Andy Liddle is a vote for experience, integrity, and commitment to keeping our community a safe place to live.

Jo-Ann LaMonica

Oneonta

Crowell has proactive spirit

I have finally found who I want to be our next Otsego County Treasurer: Dan Crowell of Middlefield. Many years ago, as a Republican alderman in the city of Oneonta, we hired a similar individual to manage the Community Development Office: Joe Bernier.

Over the years, Joe has been proactive in bringing in millions of dollars in grants to the city. It was announced just recently Joe brought in more millions to renovate the former Bresee's complex. It's that type of initiative I would expect from Joe even though he's close to retirement. Instead of easing out of his position, he still keeps plugging away.

I see that spirit in Dan Crowell. Monday's (Oct. 12) Daily Star had an article about Dan helping Andela Tool and Machine of Richfield Springs to secure some venture capitalists that were willing to back their plans to expand. His experiences with the World Bank gave him the tools to secure the financing for Andela Tool. And he did it for free.

I had a chance to talk to Dan at a forum in Worcester on Oct. 6. His openness and candidness showed the confidence in his abilities to lead this county. As a former Cooperstown native, Dan went away to acquire experiences and knowledge far beyond the normal. Lured back to his pastoral past, Dan knows the treasurer's software programs and can set goals for the county. Wouldn't it be grand to have 5- and 10-year plans for the treasurer's office and Otsego County? Instead of operating by crisis management and following the same, old patterns, we can once more be proud of that office. Wouldn't it be nice if the county board had the confidence to vote for their own budget?

Yes, I'm really excited about Dan Crowell.

Jim Sheff

Maryland

Dick Miller has helped environment

I am supporting Dick Miller because he gets things done for the environment. His experience and expertise doubled the size of the new Riddell State Park, five miles east of Oneonta, to 2,000 acres (more than Gilbert Lake State Park.)

While president of Hartwick College, Dick was the driving force in selling more than 800 acres of Hartwick College's Pine Lake Campus upper tract to the Riddell State Park. The college protected this property from logging and developed it for more than 30 years. However, the college could not do this forever. The state Parks

Department can protect this property forever and Dick saw a win-win opportunity.

Working with the environmentalists at the college and the state, Dick encouraged the college to sell the upper tract of the property to the state, allowing the money to support the Pine Lake Environmental Center (field station, Pine Lake, lodge and cabins, etc.) on the lower tract.

As part of the Riddell State Park, the upper tract of Pine Lake is protected from logging, development and mechanized vehicles. It will continue to be used for research by students and faculty and for limited recreation.

Thanks, Dick, for weaving through the various state agencies.

David Hutchison

Oneonta