YourOpinions

Oneida Area Day Care Center a true gem

My name is Lukas Duimstra and last year, mywife and I purchased a home in Oneida. Although I was not born and raised in Oneida, my wife was and our decision to purchase a home in Oneida was based largely on her positive experiences of growing up here. We both agree that Oneida is an ideal place to raise our two young children and that it is somewhere that we both feel as though we are a part of a community as opposed to just a population.

I am in the military and currently serving on active duty in California. My wife and children however, are living at our residence in Oneida. Due to my wife’s work schedule, she is unable to stay home all day and provide care to our children. As a result, our children are enrolled at Oneida Area Day Care Center (OADCC). OADCC and the staff that works there, have been great to us and provide our children with love, education, and all the resources needed to promote healthy growth. However, it has recently come to my attention that OADCC is experiencing financial difficulty. Although I am not fully aware of the reason for the strain, I do understand that without increased financial support, OADCCmay be forced to close its doors to the community it has served for over 30 years.

As I mentioned earlier, I feel as though Oneida is an amazing place to raise a family. It is located in a scenic location in Central New York and is only a short commute from Syracuse. It is a quiet town and evokes an atmosphere of serenity and community. As a young adult and father, I can confidently say that Oneida would prosper as a result of young families choosing to call it home. However, closing one of Oneida’s only premier day care centers would undoubtedly discourage many parents from wanting raise their children here.

I understand that it will take a multifaceted initiative on the part of the government and conscientious residents, but I implore you to do everything in your power to ensure that OADCC remains open and providing exceptional care to children. As the great American author and educator Neil Postman once said, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” Together, we can better ensure that Oneida remains a family-friendly community for generations to come.

Thank you for supporting Oneida Castle veterans memorial

The Oneida Castle Veteran Memorial Committee would like to express our thanks to everyone involved in making our Veteran Memorial Dedication a success.

We wish to thank the Rev. Jack Fucci for his heartfelt, inspiring invocation and blessing. Thank you to the Cochran Memorial Church for their help and assistance. Thank you to Boy Scout Troop 2 and Cub Scout Pack 2 who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, to KimHaley for her beautiful voice in singing the National Anthem, and to Doug Emerson for his playing of Taps which was an emotional moment for all.

We wish to thank the Canastota American Legion Post 140 and the Verona VFWPost 6811 for attending. We were truly honored by their presence. Their Presentation of Arms was a dignified tribute to veterans and to our country. Also, a thank you to the Oneida Castle Fire Department who attended in full dress uniform.

A huge thank you to the Oneida Castle Garden Club for their expert landscaping skills and for all their work in securing the distinguished Blue Star Memorial addition to our park. Thank you to Willson’s Nursery for their donation of flowers.

Special thanks to Assemblyman Bill Magee for attending and especially for securing the grant that made our memorial the reality as we envisioned it. Also, special thanks to the Oneida Castle Village Board of Trustees for their support and encouragement.

Thank you to Rebecca France for her delicious cupcakes that she so creatively displayed in the shape of the Americanflag complete with stars and stripes. Thank you to Greenhouse BrewinSherrill for generously providing the remainder of our refreshments.

Thank you to all who attended the dedication and to all who have contributed to this project. There would be no Veteran Memorial in Oneida Castle without the support of those who donated, volunteered, purchased bricks, or participated in any of our fundraisers. Another thank you to the Oneida Dispatch for their excellent coverage of both the project and the dedication. It is uplifting to see a community unite in a positive effort.

Themost important thank you is to each and every veteran past, present and future. Our goal from the start has been to create a lasting tribute to honor all who have proudly served and protected our country. It is our hope that, when you pass by, you take a moment to reflect and remember that many have paid a price for the freedoms we enjoy.

Once again, our sincere appreciation to all who helped make our dedication meaningful and to all who contributed to this positive accomplishment in our community.