Published: May 08, 2008 11:03 am         

Letters for May 8, 2008

Cancer walk Friday

June Christman has been doing good deeds for Cooperstown and its residents for 81 years and we think that it is time to do a good deed for her. On Friday night, May 30, we intend to light up the field at Westville airport with luminaries purchased in her honor to show that we support her in her fight against cancer and wish her well.

June is a member of the Cooperstown VFW Auxiliary, the Cooperstown Village Zoning Board, St. Mary’s Church and Bereavement Committee, and a Cooperstown Native Daughter, a CCS graduate Class of 1944 and past member of the Fire Department Auxiliary.

All who wish to purchase a $5 luminary or to walk in her honor may call 547-2532 or drop a check at 88 Chestnut St., Cooperstown.

Linda Smirk
Cooperstown

Support youth baseball, softball This past Saturday

marked the opening of the 60th season of Little League Baseball in Cooperstown. The weather held out for the Parade and Opening Day Ceremony. We are grateful to Brenda Wedderspoon- Gray and Terry Bliss, our ceremonial first pitchers, for their continued commitment to the youth of our community. Thanks also to our many sponsors for their support. Thanks to our volunteers, coaches, parents, and especially our players for their love of the games of baseball and softball.

Finally, a special thank you to our community who support the programs and players of Cooperstown Youth Baseball.

Come out and enjoy a game of Little League softball or baseball. Schedules are available at www.cooperstownyouthbaseball. org.

David Borgstrom CYB President Cooperstown

Russo running for school board

I would like to introduce myself as a candidate for the CCS Board of Education. My entire professional career has been teaching in higher education. I have a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, and currently am an Associate Professor at SUNY Oneonta. I have developed and implemented family life education programs. While families primarily guide their children, over the generations’ schools have assumed more of this responsibility. As a result, I believe that schools have a significant responsibility in the development of our children. The field of education has changed drastically over the years. Like businesses, schools are evaluated on their success or failure. However, unlike businesses where outcomes are measured in concrete financial or production terms, assessing children’s development is more difficult.

Performance on state based tests is one form of assessment, but there are other important outcomes as shown in the graduating seniors comments’ about the support and role modeling of their teachers; a fifth grade student feeling confident enough about her abilities to enter a writing contest; a CCS graduate on the Olympic road, or fighting the war in Iraq; or becoming leading citizens in our local community. I believe school districts have the responsibility to prepare students for life. An essential part of my role as a board member will be to advocate for children and families.

I bring to the Board of Education the ability to look at the whole picture and make sound judgments about academic performance, policy, fiscal matters, and personnel issues. I serve on the Board of Directors for nonprofit organizations. The current economic climate has challenged these organizations, and I helped them be fiscally responsible by planning, searching for available resources, and asking hard questions to make informed decisions.

I am proud to be part of the Cooperstown community, and to have my own children enrolled in the district. I take the fiscal responsibility of my role as a board member very seriously, and I will work hard to ensure the quality of education our children receive in the CCS district.

Theresa Russo, Ph.D. Cooperstown