o ... To everyone involved in local Memorial Day celebrations last weekend.

As the years go by and as the number of veterans of long-past wars dwindles, it can be harder for the average person who doesn’t know any people in the military to feel connected to the real meaning of the holiday.

But area military and veterans organizations, schools, governments and others did their part to make sure we remembered, with parades, decorations for soldiers’ graves, ceremonies, readings and the restoration of war monuments in Otego and Cooperstown.

Their efforts and traditions should be maintained for years to come.

o ... To the participants, organizers and spectators in the General Clinton Canoe Regatta.

Besides heading to Memorial Day events, many local residents took the opportunity to hit the water that weekend, and die-hard canoeists came from around the United States and Canada _ even Belize _ to compete in the top event, the 70-mile race from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.

Last year’s winners in that event, Andy Triebold and Matt Rimer of Michigan, repeated their victory this year.

The regatta is a great asset to our community in terms of attracting visitors, boosting businesses and providing local residents with some good races to watch.

It’s also a tough race requiring lots of endurance, and we applaud those who train hard to do their best in competition.

o ... To Charles Scorzafava for his three-decade career with the city of Oneonta wastewater-treatment plant.

Scorzafava, 55, recently retired as the plant’s chief operations manager. He held that title since 1988 and began working for the city in 1974.

His work was heralded by colleagues and subordinates.

Senior plant operator Steve Kruh said Scorzafava "was good for the plant and good for the city."

Kruh will take over as interim manager.

City Engineering Administrator Joseph Bernier said, "Chuck has done a really good job. (He) left us a highly qualified staff that will keep the plant running smoothly."

That’s important for the safety of our drinking water, particularly in light of catastrophes such as last year’s flood, which disabled the wastewater-treatment plant for awhile.

But Scorzafava and the rest of the staff kept the water supply under control through it all.

We thank him for that and wish him the best in retirement.

o ... To the Future For Oneonta Foundation for bringing back the Properties of Merit awards.

The program, co-sponsored by The Daily Star, has been dormant for the past couple of years, but foundation officials want to bring it back.

They are starting a committee and will begin taking nominations later this year. Community members vote on properties in the town and city of Oneonta in a variety of categories.

"It’s nice to reward people," Carol Mahon, executive manager, said. "It’s very exciting for them."

We agree, and we look forward to seeing which properties win this year.