Monday is Labor Day, which means different things for different people. First celebrated in 1882, Labor Day was created to honor the contributions workers have made to our country.
What it means for many of us is a long weekend.
Others associate it with the unofficial end of summer _ the last chance to take the boat out or fire up the backyard grill.
For the past 44 years, Labor Day has also been the time for the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon to be televised.
The 21½-hour variety show raises funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's service and research programs. Now a holiday staple, the telethon is expected to be seen by about 40 million viewers across the country.
The biggest fundraiser for MDA, the telethon raises money for the fight against muscular dystrophy and related diseases. Donated dollars benefit children and adults directly in numerous ways, including specialized care; free flu vaccinations; the repairing of medical equipment, including wheelchairs and leg braces; support groups; MDA summer camp; and ongoing public education and up-to-date information.
Money raised from the telethon also helps fund important research in the quest for finding a cure for muscular diseases.
The telethon will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday with an hour-long segment produced at WISF TV-15 studios in Oneonta. The telethon will also conclude in Oneonta with a three-hour segment starting at 6 p.m. Monday. It will air on Time Warner Cable channels 23 and 27 and UHF 15.
Last year, $84,827 was raised locally. That figure was down about $15,000 from 2008's total, missing the goal of $1 more than the previous year. Local telethon co-coordinator Becky Ashe said it was understandable that the total was down given the state of the economy.
"We are hoping to climb back up," she said.
"We will need Oneonta and the surrounding area's support now more than ever, as MDA is getting closer to a cure and continued research is crucial," said Mark Jeffers, longtime co-host of the Oneonta event.
The MDA Telethon is a wonderful cause. Money raised benefits people battling horrific diseases that attack the body's muscles until they deteriorate so badly the body can no longer go on. Many times, it is children who are stricken with the diseases.
We understand that times are difficult for many families and individuals. Some people just don't have the extra money to give.
But if you can afford to donate, we urge you to give generously.
Editorials
MDA telethon deserves support
- Editorials
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Cheers
To new school lunch standards, the All County Band Festival, and welcoming home Army Spec. Michael Dow.
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Have a heartfelt Valentine's Day
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Embargo no longer serves a purpose
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 3447, banning trade with Cuba "in light of the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet Communism." As this anniversary passes, it's worth asking whether this policy has had its desired effects and how much longer it should remain in place.
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Women must win fight for opportunity
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Center helps victims of child abuse and neglect
We learned some good news about some terrible news in a story by reporter Joe Mahoney in Tuesday's Daily Star.
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Chamber made excellent choices on service awards
A special committee selected by the Otsego County Chamber has made two excellent decisions regarding the organization's annual awards for service to our communities.
Continued ... - Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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Cheers
To Michael Shea, Terry Bliss, and the passage of the bill to allow Otsego's exit from MOSA.
Continued ... - Monday, February 6, 2012
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A sad tale may come to an end with arrests
People are almost always sad, and sometimes outraged, whenever something awful happens to a fellow human being.
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Pill abuse should be a priority for police, pols
Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Mark Pryor of Arkansas proposed a bill this week to help police combat a disturbing trend of increasing prescription drug abuse.
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More needs to be done to aid vets with PTSD
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Area 'shocked' at underage drinking? That's shocking
It has been referenced so often that it has become a cliché.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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School's new lease on life a welcome development
It is a big place designed to echo with the sounds of young people in a healthy learning environment.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Cheers
To the Central American Youth Ambassadors Program, to Ray Preston and to the NCOC building trades class and the Prattsville Fire Department.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Mitt's not at fault for loopholes in tax code
As the longtime frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney has faced withering attacks from rivals seeking to upset him.
Continued ... - Saturday, January 28, 2012
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Rest in peace, Naples and Stalter
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Case closed on 2 years of turmoil
"Case closed."
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Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller was referring to possible criminal charges against fired police officer Michael Breen on Wednesday, but Miller just as easily could have been talking about the more than two years of turmoil the city has endured with its police department. - Thursday, January 26, 2012
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Obama played his cards right Tuesday
Despite a daunting economy and a challenging re-election campaign, on Tuesday night President Barack Obama displayed what Mark Twain called "the calm confidence of a Christian holding four aces" in his State of the Union address.
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Searching for votes instead of honor
Say what you will about John McCain, the Republican nominee for president in 2008 who inflicted an ignorant Sarah Palin upon an unsuspecting nation.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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Cheers
To MLK Jr. Day events, Diana Nicols, and Jordan Beers and Mariah Ruff.
Continued ... - Monday, January 23, 2012
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Dignity not enough to show in speech
After weeks of watching the often unseemly, if not downright humorous, antics of the Republican candidates for his job, President Barack Obama should have little trouble providing at least one thing Tuesday night in his State of the Union address. Dignity.
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Cheers
