Two should work together

I read recently that Oneonta’s Regional Visitors Center may be closing by the end of this year.

I am confused as to why the Visitors Center and the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce can’t combine resources and fill one of the vacant storefronts on Main Street in Oneonta.

Both the Visitors Center and the Chamber are in odd locations (I didn’t even know where the Chamber was until this year). Their presence on Main Street would give each maximum visibility and accessibility for residents and tourists.

Each is important to "sell" Oneonta and the surrounding area "" the Chamber would provide regional information and the Center would offer local items for sale, most of which would promote the region.

I have always been impressed with the quality of both our Chamber and Visitors Center, and feel the merger would result in a top-notch resource.

I would also suggest that proper signage be put into place that would lead people to the establishment.

Oneonta is ready for a growth spurt. With the Foothills Performing Arts Center, plus Stella Luna, a refurbished Damaschke Field and the beautiful brick buildings, we have a real opportunity to reinvent and restore that part of the city. And a centralized information center is necessary to lead tourists to all we have to offer.

While the logistics for this kind of project can often be difficult, I hope our local government realizes that support for both entities is important to the financial health of our area. Oneonta has so much to offer "" it just needs to be "sold" better.

Chris Altmann

East Meredith

Altmann is publisher of Hot Spots Maps.

Letter-writer correct on Iraq

Hooray to Thomas Beattie. In his letter of Aug. 1, he said what I think most people have on their minds.

My son is back in Iraq after being there at the start in 2003, with the 173rd, then wounded in Afghanistan in 2006, again with the 173rd, and now with the 3rd Infantry Division.

I don’t want what our young men and women have given these last five years to be for nothing.

Although the Iraq war was started by lies from our highest elected officials to our Congress, which even the U.N. didn’t buy into, we should finish the mess that has been started.

To cut and run now is just repeating the past.

Ronald Anderson

Mount Upton