Published: October 06, 2009 07:55 am      

Cheers

... To organizers of the sixth annual PumpkinFest held by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 26 and 27.

The two-day event featured weigh-offs of pumpkins and other fall harvest items in which more than $7,000 in prize money was awarded.

Sunday's featured event was the Great Pumpkin Regatta, where participants hollow out giant pumpkins and race them on Otsego Lake.

This event has turned into a wonderful fall tradition, and we are glad to see it continue to grow.

o ... To the more than 30 staff and students from Charlotte Valley Central School who let their heads be shaved to support an alumna.

Annabel Kugler, a 2006 Charlotte Valley Central School graduate who is being treated for cancer, visited with friends, former classmates and local residents on Sept. 27, as the Davenport community held a barbecue fundraiser.

The event generated almost $10,000 through the shavings, food sales, an auction and donations, according to early tallies.

Kugler said she was ``amazed'' by the outpouring of support and touched to see people losing their locks on her behalf.

We agree. It is good to see the community come together to help one of its own.

Jeers

... To Delaware County Judge Carl Becker for giving what amounts to a slap on the wrist to a sex offender by sentencing him only to probation.

Jeffrey Velten, 42, of Oneonta, was indicted on one count of first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor.

Velten, who worked in Delaware County's Information Technology Department, said he e-mailed a photo of his genitals to a person he met in a chat room. Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said Velten thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl, but the recipient of the photos was a state police investigator.

Becker said he was not fining Velten because he has already paid a high financial price for his actions.

"You lost a very good municipal job, a good salary, a good pension and health insurance," Becker said. "You have already paid a far greater price than any fine I could impose."

We're glad there was no real victim in this crime. But while Becker also declared Velten a Level 1 sex offender _ the lowest level _ we don't feel the punishment is enough.

Velten losing his job wasn't a penalty imposed by the court, and we feel the court should have done more. If jail time wasn't an option, a hefty fine by the court was needed.