To everyone involved in the 50th General Clinton Canoe Regatta.
The longest single-day flatwater canoe race in the world marked the milestone with three days of races and events, including its inaugural Hall of Fame inductions.
The inductees were put into two categories. Paddlers inducted were Serge and Claude Corbin of Canada; Luc Robillard of Vermont; Peter Heed of Westmoreland; Ted LaMonica, who holds the record for most finishes; Bob Zaveral of Mount Upton; and Jan Povlock of Unadilla. Contributors inducted were race founder Charlie Hinkley, Cliff Wade, Lew Whitney and Wayne King of Bainbridge; and Ed Roelle of Sidney.
"It's a good honor," said Serge Corbin, 55, who earned the first of his record 28 Class C-2 Pro victories with older brother Claude in 1974. "It's all nice. For me, I did what I had to do and I won them. I know I worked hard to win them."
Corbin returned to the Susquehanna River on Memorial Day for the first time since 2005. Although he didn't add another mark to the win column, it was good to see him back on the river. It was an appropriate way for the race to mark a half century.
We applaud the organizers and participants, past and present, for keeping this tradition alive.
To Kristin Ratliff on her appearance in the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Kristin was among the 278 students ages 6 to 15 to compete in Washington last week.
Although the 14-year-old Cooperstown student didn't advance to the semifinals, she showed she knew her stuff by correctly spelling "quonk," a noise that disturbs or disrupts a television or radio program because of its proximity to the microphones or cameras, and "cubitiere," an elbow guard in medieval armor, in the second and third rounds.
Kristin qualified for the national contest March 3 when she won the Regional Spelling Bee in Oneonta. The Daily Star, as a bee sponsor, paid expenses for Kristin and a chaperone.
We congratulate Kristin on a job well done.
Jeers
To the proposal in the state Legislature banning anonymous online comments.
Republican Assemblyman Jim Conte said his legislation will address the problem of "mean-spirited and baseless political attacks," and would stop "anonymous criticism of local businesses" and stop "cyberbullies by forcing them to reveal their identity."
If enacted, the legislation would require websites to remove all anonymous comments that are brought to the attention of administrators, unless the poster agrees to give his real name.
Critics said this bill would violate the First Amendment right of freedom of speech, and we agree.
If this bill were to pass, it would likely be shot down as unconstitutional soon after.
Conte's goals are valid. But this is not the way to do it. Free speech is too important.
We encourage the state Legislature to let this bill die.
