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Cheers & Jeers

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August 30, 2010

Cheers and Jeers: Aug. 30, 2010

Press-Republican

CHEERS to JVC America, a manufacturer of video camera equipment, among other things, for an extremely warm and timely offer recently during a very difficult period for a local family. On July 22, a father and son from Florida but visiting family in Keene were swimming in the Ausable River. The father, Robert Hamer II, had been videotaping the vacation, including the final moments of Robert Hamer III, age 12, before the boy drowned. "Bobby 3" was in fact diving for the camera after it had been dropped by mistake into the river. The camera was found, days later, but it was feared that the images were lost while sitting on the river bottom. Terry Shea, general manager of corporate communications for JVC, had heard about the tragedy and assured the family that, if the camera was found, the company would have its service department try to retrieve the images and video footage captured on the camera. Luckily, the camera was fine when it was found about a week later, but it was a small gesture from a big company that shows corporate America can have a heart, too. The Hamer family has endured an ordeal, to be sure, but of some comfort must be video images of the boy's last vacation and the fun he must have had.

A JEER has been suggested for the beer distributors that occupy billboards advertising their products on Route 9, just north of the Scomotion Creek bridge — directly across the road from the Karen Fleury Memorial Bike Path. That path was installed to commemorate the death of Karen, a young woman who in the summer of 1982 was hit and killed by a drunk driver while biking on Route 9 at that point. Her parents, Joan and the late Jim Fleury, spent the rest of their lives campaigning against drunk driving. That bike path is a poignant reminder of their ordeal, their daughter's death and the evils of driving after drinking. It's true that the billboard is an incongruity to those who know the bike path's origins and history. But, as a practical matter, few drivers passing by are even aware that the bike path exists, let alone what prompted its construction. There are no markers for drivers to glimpse as they enter or leave the city. We'll just leave it at this, as most beer advertising suggests: If you're going to drink, drink responsibly.

CHEERS to the banking/financial institutions that have minimal charges for overdraft protection. There are some, such as the Ticonderoga Credit Union, that assess a $5 fee, while others levy a hefty $35. They all should be assured customers notice such things.

CHEERS to those responsible for closing the main street during the recent Essex Day. Though it may have been a slight inconvenience for those who wanted to get to Lakeshore Road, the two-block circumnavigation allowed for hundreds of participants to enjoy the day in safety.

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Cheers & Jeers