Published: August 21, 2008 09:18 am         

Letters for August 21, 2008

Lambert a qualified candidate

A recent letter to the editor described the interim, appointed County Court Judge as “the only candidate for Otsego County Judge who has been deemed ‘highly qualified’ by the most strict review board in New York State.”

Since the letter was very vague about this review board I decided to do some research and I encourage all readers to do the same. I went to the website of the New York State Office of Court Administration. I then clicked on “Judges” and then “Judicial Campaign Ethics Center.” From there I was able to look up “Candidate Ratings” and discovered that the ONLY candidate listed as ‘Qualified’ for Otsego County/ Family/ Surrogate’s Court Judge by the Independent Judicial Election Qualifications Commission was John F. Lambert. I looked at last year’s ratings as well and found six other candidates listed as “Qualified,” including Michael V. Coccoma whose vacancy is to be filled in this November’s election. Noticeably absent from both lists was the appointed, interim Judge.

The aforementioned letter to the editor opens by referencing the ills of political parties and their inappropriateness in elections for officials such as judges. I could not agree more. The current interim judge was a political appointment by the Spitzer/ Paterson Administration and the review board is made up of other appointees.

Meanwhile, the Independent Judicial Election Qualifications Commission is a non-partisan body whose sole purpose is to assess the qualifications of judicial candidates. Therefore, I do not understand how any candidate other than John Lambert can refer to himself or herself as the only or most qualified candidate.

Philip Lewis

Cooperstown

Community made difference

The Cooperstown Community recently supported fund-raising events for Mary Turi of Cooperstown Preschool — in a very big way.

In addition to anonymous direct donations to the bank account set up at the Leatherstocking Credit Union, families pitched in to make Miss Mary Day at the Barnyard Swing a resounding success!

I want to thank Marcy Birch for generously offering the Barnyard Swing as the perfect venue — forfeiting an entire Saturday of receipts. Julie Cring, Mo Shuermann and other parents pulled together a delicious bake sale. The Aiken family helped

design the signs for the sponsorships. I also want to thank the many individuals who donated anonymously or directly to Mary and the following businesses and individuals for providing supplies and services or sponsoring minigolf holes:

Ashley-Connor Real Estate, Barnyard Swing, Becky Davidson’s Jewelry & Augur’s Books, Ben Ingalls

Construction, Bruce Hall Corp., Carefree Gardens, Carr-Adams Cottage, Church & Scott, Cliff Archer — Legends of Baseball, Cooper Country Abstract, Cooperstown Action Photography, Cooperstown Agway, Cooperstown Book Nook, Cooperstown Natural Foods, Cooperstown Rotary, Cooperstown. com Accommodation Service, Don Olin Realty, G&S Construction, Girls on the Run, Hubbells Real Estate, Huff Ice Cream, Ingalls Blueberries, Jamie Sharratt, John Mitchell Real Estate, Jon Edgington Construction, Katie, Victoria, Jimmy, and Bella Anania, Lambert & Trossett, Lasting Expressions, Leatherstocking Credit Union, Major League Motor Inn, Margaret Buchanan/ Meg’s Gems, Nate Ingalls Electric, Oaknut Forest Products, OCCA, Peter & Derek Hochbrueckner, Putnam Insurance Agency, Royal Chrysler, Ryan Wilcox & Son, Sarah Ryan-Wilcox & Patricia Ryan, Schlather & Birch, Stagecoach, Suzanne Summers, The Bistro, The Busse Family, The Clay Cafe, The Copy Shop Plus, the Dr. Gable Family, The Geertgens Family, The Lambert Family, the Mackie Family, and Thomas Lach and the Legends of Baseball tournament players. The community pulled together on very short notice and I want to thank you all.

Juli Sharratt

Cooperstown

Thanks for support

When I first heard the diagnosis of cancer, my world turned upside down. I prayed for the strength and support I would need to get through this. My prayers were answered with all of you. Your support, love, cards, prayers, hugs, flowers and my quilt my beautiful quilt, made by the children, have meant so much to me. I believe now that God places people in our path when we need them the most.

The fundraiser at the Barnyard Swing astounded me. To my friends Juli Sharratt and Marcie Birch, without whom this never would have happened — I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And, I want to thank each of you for your generosity and thoughtfulness, your hard work and your prayers. I am overwhelmed and overjoyed by the donations and well-wishes I have received. I have spread your cards, gifts and my preschoolers’ works of art throughout my house so that I am always surrounded by your good thoughts and love.

Over the past 22 years, you have blessed my life by allowing me to care for your children. I truly have loved them all and have missed working with them over the last several months. I can’t wait until my life is back on track and I am with those “little cherubs” once again.

Love, Miss Mary Mary Turi

Milford

What would make them happy?

A letter in the last Cooperstown Crier suggested that business people should try harder to find alternate uses for the land MSG Corp. is considering buying and using for a music concert.

I own Tintagel Book Store. Last Fourth of July marked my 25th year as a business owner with an open shop in East Springfield. In the last 10 years, I have seen established book stores go, as they say, from bricks to clicks. We are in the age of the computer. Book selling, lawyering, retailing, many services and businesses are going from bricks to clicks. People, either alone with one computer, or in banks of ten or a dozen do not need nor want 600 or a thousand acres around them and their businesses.

The same people who do not want MSG in Springfield do not want motorcycles or baseball camps. Could any recreational use that will attract enough people to become a paying investment please these people? Could any abrupt change — as opposed to the slow degradation we are now seeing — please these people? Would they like some kind of factory, if one could be found, on this property? If gas drilling becomes a reality perhaps they would like a gas refinery in Springfield? How about a mobile home court? I have heard a 500- to 2,000- head cattle farm suggested. Waste disposal for even 500 cows would entail either serious pollution of both air and water or large expenditures for technologically advanced equipment.

Some of the property in question has already been subdivided. Ideally, I would like all 20 lots to go to people wishing to build attractive homes with well-kept lawns and gardens, but I do not see from where these 20 affluent families will come from, or where they will be employed. Small business people who have survived the years may see business problems more clearly, but they are no better positioned than other residents to reach out to people with the money and inclination to buy and use large tracts of property. People in successful business are busy. Their expertise is focused. They have not knowledge or time to scout the universe to find your ideal. MSG may not be that ideal. The approval/ disapproval process has just begun. If something better comes along ...

Girls, the ball is in your court. I sincerely hope that you bat it over the net and win the point.

Gail Larson

East Springfield