Published: July 22, 2008 03:45 am         

Cheers

o ... To Matt Eddy, 31, of Lynn, Mass., who is traveling across the country in a motorized wheelchair to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy.

Eddy and his troupe made their way through Walton on July 10, on the 12th day of his five-month journey. He was given six months to live eight years ago. He says he's making his trek to "raise money for Matt's Place (the charity organization founded in his name) and to provide inspiration for people like me."

We applaud Eddy's quest and believe that everyone can benefit from his outlook on life: "No matter how bad things are, people shouldn't just sit around and feel sorry for themselves. You have to live your life."

o ... To Otsego's Democratic elections commissioner Hank Nicols of Cooperstown, for penning a book on the life of his son, Henry Joseph. Henry, an Eagle Scout, not only battled AIDS, but did so publicly, telling the world about his condition in March 1991, during a time when hysteria about the disease was running high. Henry died in 2000, after suffering a brain injury when his car hit a telephone pole.

Hank Nichols resolved to finish the book, "Henry for President," by what would have been his son's 35th birthday, and did so.

We admire Hank's courage and commend him for making it possible for Henry's life story to continue to inspire others.

Jeers

... To the Chenango County laws that are prohibiting officials from properly taking care of such eyesores _ and potential dangers _ as the house at 24 Academy St. in the village of New Berlin, which burned for the second time on July 6.

Several members of the community would like to see the house removed. Mayor Carol Riley also indicated that there's a condemned three-story brick building at the corner of Main and Genesee streets that is still standing.

Bruce Bates, Chenango County's code enforcement officer, says in regards to the house that he has to "operate by county law number two of 1988, which doesn't allow me to tell an owner to take a building down." He did, however, order the owner, James McCann of Mahwah, N.J., to board it up again.

"If county law doesn't allow the Code Enforcement Office to take care of these situations, the law should be changed," said Riley, and we agree. These buildings are not only visually unappealing for the village, but dangerous and potentially a health hazard. Aubrey Lamphere, a neighbor of the house, said that he has seen rats coming out of the structure and that "the shingles are made of asbestos and it would cost a lot to get rid of them."

We urge the county to amend the laws for the betterment and safety of the community.