Letters to the Editor for Nov. 6

Do more to make Central Park user-friendly in winter

Re Nov. 4 article, “Golf course a ski season draw?”: I was glad to read that Schenectady is working to increase winter recreation at the city golf course. Many families already use this site in winter to sled, ski and snowshoe, and more may come with increased services and publicity.

I’d like to see the city also work to increase winter recreation in Central Park. [General Services Commissioner] Carl Olsen mentioned creating trails at the golf course for cross-country skiing. There are also many residents who ski directly from their homes into Central Park. Each year it becomes more difficult to do this as trees fall across trails in the wooded area off Central Parkway. These trees also block access to the park during warmer months to those on bikes, and those with walkers and strollers. Certainly there is access by the sidewalks, but the woods provide quick access for residents in the upper Union area, and offer a natural habitat in the city. Recreational use of the wooded area also helps keep less desirable use of the area down.

Besides clearing trees from established trails, the park could increase winter use by having bathroom access. It’s hard to sled with young kids for an afternoon and not have bathroom access. If the new bathrooms can’t be winterized, the city should consider fixing the bathrooms attached to the park office.

Finally, the golf course article mentioned having food available to increase winter use, and mentioned that vendors at the Central Park Casino can’t get visitors to buy even a cup of cocoa during winter. My family has used the park almost daily over 11 years and we don’t recall the Casino being open on any days during the winter. In fact, even during the warmer months, the hours have been very unreliable.

Golfers who enjoyed the clubhouse in summer may keep business going over the winter, along with some additional winter users. The Casino would actually see more potential daily users in the winter, with or without traditional winter sports users, as there are already walkers, runners and dog exercisers visiting the park daily year-round. Adding bathrooms access, clearing fallen trees and possibly adding hot drinks might increase sledding, skiing, snowshoeing and skating at the park.

Laurie Hoyt

Schenectady

Don’t abuse a cranky baby, call 911 first

An idea to help protect babies. Babies can keep us up all night long. They cry, they need to be changed, they want more food, they want to be held, etc. They are babies. They need our help when all we want to do is sleep. How do we protect them when their caregiver is at the end of their rope? [Nov. 1 Gazette]

When a hospital shows the “shaken baby” video, it should give the caregiver a sign to put on the baby’s crib — “If I am annoying you, and you are at the end of your rope, please call 911.” Let there be no repercussions for calling 911 — maybe that might stop the caregiver from harming the baby.

Peg Lapo

Delanson

Rotterdam’s nonprofit EMS worth town support

Over the past 20 years, ambulance service for the town of Rotterdam has transitioned from three volunteer squads to a single nonprofit entity, Rotterdam Emergency Medical Service (REMS), with all paid personnel. Donations, fundraisers and sporadic insurance reimbursement are not capable of providing the revenue stream necessary to support REMS’ critical emergency operations.

Given proper financial support, REMS can provide basic life support that is at least as good as the service that any outside company can give. In fact, since REMS employees come primarily from Rotterdam, they know the town and its residents better than any outsider. That is a distinct advantage to the citizens of Rotterdam.

In the long run, financial support of nonprofit REMS should prove to be substantially more economical than contracting with any for-profit company. In order to stay in business, a for-profit company must charge substantially more than its costs in order to pay necessary real estate and income taxes and provide a return to the owner. Non-profit REMS is not subject to any of those requirements.

An outside, for-profit, company may low-ball a short-term contract price in order to get the business. However, in the long run, its price must be higher.

The Rotterdam Town Board should opt to give appropriate financial support to local nonprofit REMS rather than contract for service with any for-profit ambulance company.

Gary Bonk

Rotterdam

The writer is chairman of the Rotterdam Fire District No. 3 board of commissioners.

DePoalo great football coach then, and now

Coach [Carm] DePoalo, as I ponder on the sidelines watching this great football team you produced, I can’t help think what it was like over 35 years ago, playing for Belmont Pop Warner and the methods you used to motivate a champion.

Although your style has changed slightly, you still earn that respect most great leaders today only wish they could have! Your heart and soul has always been in the game, along with the young men you coach. You have proved once again that with the right skills and determination, a champion can be developed regardless of the naysayers and those who choose to blame everything on kids who are “uncoachable.”

You are a great example of a role model and mentor for those who desire to win and not quit! I hope you continue to “walk da walk and talk da talk” because it works! Thank you for your lessons in Football 101. Please continue to make champions.

Bobby Burns

Schenectady

Sch’dy Greenmarket definitely a go

How nice to see the Schenectady Greenmarket at Proctors on Nov. 2 — shoppers flocking to downtown on Sunday, checking out a new venture filled with locally grown products.

Moving the spring/summer market to the Proctors vicinity was a good idea because it provides more parking. I am always in favor of shopping local, but I found the $15 per pound for arugula a little steep.

Best of luck to the Schenectady Greenmarket.

Bernard Witkowski

Scotia