The following letter was published in this week’s issue of the Gazette.
To the Editor:
Summerfest is just around the corner. Returning after an unfortunate two-year hiatus, it has been a tradition in the village for decades. Summerfest brings many village groups and organizations together to welcome summer and to celebrate life in our little river town. But even though Summerfest has returned, something will be missing this year, and that is Dr. Greg Schmidt, known by many in the village as “Mr. Summerfest” due to his more than three decades of organizing and running the village’s annual event.
Greg fixed many an aching back and cared for the health of many residents in the village with his chiropractic practice. He raised his family here and served the village as a trustee (three terms), mayor (also three terms), and as the President of the Croton Rotary Club, an organization whose purpose is to do public service. Greg didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk in his desire to always make Croton a better community for all who live here. He nurtured and helped Summerfest to grow for over 32 years. His contributions to our village are too numerous to list here.
Yet when I approached the village board a few years ago to request that Dr. Schmidt be recognized for his years of service, the response was that the board had to reach “consensus”. The board has shuffled members in and out and some have remained the same, and we have a new village manager, but apparently the Board is still unable to reach a consensus on the question of whether it is appropriate to honor Dr. Schmidt’s contributions to the village in a public way. The board has named streets and meeting rooms in the blink of an eye, so the question is why this should take so long or be ignored.
“When I approached the village board a few years ago to request that Dr. Schmidt be recognized for his years of service, the response was that the board had to reach “consensus”. The board has shuffled members in and out and some have remained the same, and we have a new village manager, but apparently the Board is still unable to reach a consensus on the question of whether it is appropriate to honor Dr. Schmidt’s contributions to the village in a public way. The board has named streets and meeting rooms in the blink of an eye, so the question is why this should take so long or be ignored.”
Perhaps village residents should write or call their elected officials and ask why we can’t make this happen. The contributions Dr. Schmidt made are significant and easily meet the standards for recognition from the village. I personally think a plaque near or on the dummy light in the upper village would be a wonderful recognition since it is the place where “Mr. Summerfest” announced and recognized the many village groups as they paraded into the upper village to open Croton's Summerfest for 32 years.
Respectfully,
Bob Anderson