Something happened last weekend. All of a sudden the Village of Cooperstown was quiet; the sidewalks were sparsely populated; there were a number of parking spaces on Main Street (though not so many opposite the Hall of Fame, where the sign says 15-minute parking); there were no horns blaring (though the fire department siren was working hard, as is its wont); and there were fewer cars speeding up and down the lake and on Route 28, south toward Oneonta.…
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Editorial - Page 17
Recently it has come to light that the fourth grade reading scores for children in New York have dropped at least six points, double the national average, on the test that allows for comparisons among the states. And that comparison puts our state—among, as we know, the largest—at number 32 in the nation for child literacy.…
Citizens have a right to know who they’re dealing with, whether it be in government or private enterprise. But that’s not the case when it comes to Limited Liability Companies, or LLCs. LLCs, for example, can own property, apply for grants, operate as landlords and donate to political campaigns. Holding government accountable for its action demands a well-informed public.…
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” So goes the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which was contained in the Bill of Rights and ratified on December 15, 1791. It guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and…
The first days of August 2023, have arrived. It’s the absolute height of summer. Hot, but not too hot, humid, most of the time, sunny, fairly often, rainy, pretty much a little bit every day, with some humdingers in between, and unseasonably green. We have at long last shed our down jackets and hung up our fleece, though not too far away, and embraced, though merely for a few moments, the snow-less, freeze-less few short weeks we have in front…
Courtesy is defined by Merriam-Webster as “behavior marked by polished manners or respect for others; courteous behavior; a courteous and respectful act or expression,” and civility as “civilized conduct, especially courtesy, politeness.” As a news outlet which publishes in both hard copy and electronic formats, we strive to cover today’s issues with both courtesy and civility, and with respect. Respect for differing opinions, differing political views, differing lifestyles and differing religious beliefs. Variety, after all, is the spice of life.…
Here in this beautiful county of ours it turns out we have been, and still are, extremely lucky. The killing heat that has settled on most of the rest of the world has not come to us. Yet. Even last weekend’s Hall of Fame Induction survived excessive heat damage, with the many baseball fans who traditionally flock to Cooperstown to sit out in the sun endlessly: hoping for attention from their idols negotiating the golf course; lurking at the gates…
The abstract concept had been around for a couple years by the winter of 1936, so the public was not surprised when the official announcement came. But when the world learned on February 2, 1936, that Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, a new classification arose for future players, managers, umpires, and executives. And a new national dialogue—one that burns brightly today—was born.…
Last week, on the evening of Friday the 7th of July, the Glimmerglass Festival opened the doors of the Alice Busch Opera Theater for its 48th season with a provocative, moving, and beautifully sung and brilliantly acted performance of Puccini’s “La bohème.” This is the fifth Glimmerglass production of what is among the most well-known and well-loved operas in the world.…
We have just celebrated the Fourth of July, surrounded by Canadian smoke, threatening heat waves and heavenly rain. As usual, the Cooperstown Fire Department outdid itself, sending up noisy multi-colored rockets and shooting stars, to the amusement and appreciation of us all, except, of course, our dogs. Oneonta’s Hometown Fourth of July Festival is underway as we go to press.…
