Samuel Anthony Ettaro   IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26, 06 - 1:32 PM | Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board All, As you are probably well aware, we've been very vocal about our belief that serious change must be regarding many facets of our Clearfield Tourism and Special events systems, business relationships and campaigns. No secrets there. However, for some strange reason, there do seem to be secrets elsewhere. When Councilman Mike Errigo opened a dialogue with us on the CI.A. site, I was encouraged and thought we might be getting somewhere. In one of his letters to me he encouraged me to get with Bill Rishel, the Clearfield fellow who is now pushing for the Borough to take back the Fair Grounds from the Fair Board and hire Leon Meyer as the Borough's entertainment manager. (Or some such plan, which isn't completely clear) Mike felt that perhaps we've been a bit unfair in our vocal oposition to Mr. Rishel and his campaigns and that he's really a pretty good guy. So, that said, and seeing that I like Mike and feel confident in his assessments of character, I aproached Mr. Rishel at the now infamous Borough Council meeting where he again brought his agenda before Council. SEE GANT and THE COURIER FOR RECENT STORIES and STAY TUNED FOR AUDIO FROM THAT NIGHT HERE AT CI.A. When I met Bill and offered a truce to see if we might be able to get together on some issues and see if we have a common ground on which to build, I received a puzzling response. See, Mr. Rishel did indeed lambast me via email a few weeks ago saying that we should not rely on 'roomers'as he put it for reports on our site. Among other things, he basically insinuated that our assertions and concerns about him, Chrome/Thrills and what the heck was REALLY going on was off base and that he knew the truth somehow. I cordially invited him at that point to come on the show, discuss it in an open and honest interview, or for him to utilize our open free forum to express his views. These offers he has yet to accept. So now that you've a background, please read my letter to Mr. Rishel (copied to Mike Errigo) earlier this week. Again, setting forth my concerns over last year's events, his puzzling statement to me at the Council meeting, and again, my concerns over what exactly his true agenda is. Oh, yes, and another offer to come on the show and to use this open forum to tell Clearfield his "truths". I did receive "read" receipts from that email. Two days later I asked again if we were going to openly and honestly discuss these matters and again received a "read" receipt. Again, no response. I then figured maybe the Fair Board would like to address some of my questions and sent them an invitation. No response. The other day Kim Finnegan ran an article in The Courier where Brenda Hunter from the Fair Board did address Mr. Rishel, but only very vaguely touched on any real "issues" and most certainly NO BODY has yet answered or even acknowledged the questions that I've been asking for over a YEAR NOW! Borough Council has seen these questions and concerns. The Chamber has seen these questions and concerns. The Fair Board has seen these questions and concerns. And Mr. Bill Rishel and Leon Meyer have seen these questions and concerns. Still, nobody will attempt to answer nor will they even acknowledge these questions and concerns. What's really happening? Maybe nothing. See, I don't know because no one is telling us. All I can offer to you good people of Clearfield County is that there is DEFINATELY something going on, a bigger story, that you very clearly are being denied and that key players in Clearfield are going to great lengths to avoid and conceal. My hope is that somebody will have the courage to stand up and speak the truth. The citizens of Clearfield deserve at least that much. This is beyond ridiculous. More as we receive it. Peace, Samuel |
| Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 1:33 PM |  Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board Rishel's Slam of CI.A. opinion of his campaigning: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chamber of Commerce" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 3:02 PM Subject: Bad Roomers: > Mr. Attero, > Wow!!! I would think an informative web site that's suppose to have > the best interest of the good people of Clearfield in mind would have > accurate information and not use "here say" but who am I to judge. Are you > a > friend of the people in Clearfield or a miss informant If I want to here > roomers I will stand on the street corner. Bill Rishel |
| Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 1:34 PM | Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board Ettaro's Response to His Slam: Hi Bill, The site is an open forum. Lots of feedback coming in from many many different sources, not all of which is verifyable by us every step of the way. We do involve ourselves and ask for information from citizens, and we generally let people have their say without editing it or censoring it, unless it's simply straight up, obvious abuse. If there's something behind it, we post it. If it's wrong, we'll admit it and work to find the correct information. Also, we're not a news site, we're an activist site set up to share information and spurn open and transparent dialogue on important issues. All are encouraged to jump into the arena... especially our detractors as all sides to all arguments are important in order to make an informed decision. If you have something to add to the mix, an opinion, a fact sheet, or if you would like to come on the audio show, you're more than welcome. Perhaps a specific comment from you regarding the "roomers" that you are referring to would help clear things up? There are several free and open opportunities for you to take advantage of on the site and, considering the passion in your note, I would suspect that you'll do so. As well you should. I urge you to make your comments specific and address them to the person who wrote the comments that concern you. That will be helpful. Please feel free to address anything you wish on the free open forum, email me something for the blog, or do a phone interview sometime to address your concerns. Personally, I'd like to find out more about your relationship with the Chamber and why I'm getting this email from the admin@clearfieldchamber.com account? Last I heard via the "roomer" mill, you weren't and still are not an employee of the Chamber. I guess there's just so much to cover and discuss regarding our lovely area of the state, eh? My name is Ettaro, by the way. Sincerely, Samuel Anthony Ettaro Producer - Director - Educator www.citizensadvocate.net www.ettaro.com www.keystonextra.com www.futuresfastforward.com 814- 553-9372 |
| Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 1:41 PM | Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board LETTER SENT AFTER BOROUGH COUNCIL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION WITH MR. RISHEL: Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board Bill, In response to the below email I invited you to come onto our online radio show and sit in an interview with me so as to give you opportunity to clear up your concerns. I also invited you to use our open forum freely to address any concerns that you have. Mr. Errigo suggested that you're a good guy with good motives and that perhaps I should be willing to sit with you and see if there is a common ground there. I suggested that to you at Borough Council the other day and am willing to do so. To date I've not received any response from you accepting these above offers but would like to extend them again. Here are the questions that I have and will be addressing in any talk with you as well as a planned campaign on CI'A.s part that started with my address to council on the Nazi/Hate items at the fair back in August. It seems that you and I are saying the same thing. If you view my address to council, I called openly and aggressively for public audit, opening of the books, clarity of the relationship between borough council and the fair board as well as the general decentralization of the fair grounds and ceding control with the public, not a private group. So, on the surface, we are looking to accomplish the same thing and my site and group may well be a powerful ally in your efforts. Where my concern lies is what is the motivation behind this move on your part? I've tried to uncover this and get solid answers and they've not been forthcoming. It's nice talk, regarding "we have to come together as community" nice fuzzy general talk, but the actions I've seen and how things have been handled have ended up showing the opposite at times and there seems to be no willingness on anybody's part in the problems that surfaced to accept responsibility. I've a few direct questions that I would like to gain straight answers on and perhaps, with some clarity, I may well come to understand better: Killer Concepts says that you were acting as intermediary between a "local investor" and their company and that they presented their business plan to you, it was taken to your interested parties, and that no body ever got back with them with a yes, no or an offer to negotiate further. They heard about the rejection of their plan when Janice stated in the progress that "The general feeling is why should we pay some company from outside the area to do what we can do locally ourselves." Why was this handled in this manner? What is your connection with Alan Walker and the Clearfield Chamber? Who funded Thrills in the Hills? Did the event make money or lose money? Why were there no national level big makers at that event? What solid reasons do you have to promote Leon Myer as the suggested manager for a Borough-run entity managing the fair grounds? What is is background, experience and what success stories does he have under his belt? Who was directly responsible for the strip show at Thrills in the Hills and the problems with public drunkenness and the law-enforcement issues? ( that were NOT a part of Chrome, might I add) My TV show/web show Keystone Xtra produced 2 news segments which aired on Fox8 TV News at 10, one before the event, once immediately after the event (Chrome). We shot all weekend in a cooperative venture with the IT Academy at Jeff Tech and gave 6 local students the opportunity to take part in professional video production of a major event, meet legends of the industry and generated over 5 MAJOR articles in regional newspapers (The Progress, The Courier, Tri-County Sunday and the Punxy Spirit) about Chrome and my project at the school. We have produced a full episode of Futures Fast Forward on "The Custom Motorcycle Industry" which the main body was shot at Chrome and featured two area-bike makers. (www.futuresfastforward.com). The final cut of the show will be airing on Fox8 and ABC 23 starting in January. I did not make a penny from Chrome or any Clearfield business for these endeavors and the event, and Clearfield, benefitted greatly by the enormous exposure that our efforts generated. Yet, when it came time to negotiate with Killer Concepts and whoever is supporting you and your efforts, we were not brought in on this at all, and in fact, when the decision was made to "do it locally" nobody from your camp ever contacted us, asked for our involvment and, in fact, did not even offer a simple thank you for all that we did. One simple question here.... Why? If what you are suggesting is the case, that the Fair Board is the source of all of the problems we've seen over the past two years in these regards, then I'm very willing to look at your proof and willing to join you in your fight for change and may well endorse (continued) |
| Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 1:44 PM | Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board LETTER POST-COUNCIL MEETING PART II (continued from previous post) ....Leon and your plan. You say that my take on the above issues are strictly "roomers", but when offered to come on the show and set it straight and offer us and our viewers/listeners your side of the story, it's been not accepted? If our take on the above points are rumors or indeed, incorrect, then let's clear it up and get to work together. It's a simple matter. Also, to clarify motives and techniques, at the Council meeting you made a point to tell me that you don't believe in "bashing" people and that you choose to keep things positive. That's fine, Bill that you say that. I believe, however, in opening up the can of worms because while so many in Clearfield talk "nice", what is generally said behind the scenes is just the opposite. I've been around these parts to know fully how things work and that behind closed doors, it's not so nice, and there are indeed conspiracies that take root. Some grow, some die but it does happen. Over and over it happens and it's why this area is stagnate. I'm putting valid questions out to the public and if someone is stepping into the public arena and presenting themselves as a leader on a subject that is crucial to our area's development, I'm going to call them to the mat on their motives and reasonings. You and all others have the same opportunity as our supporters to voice your opinion on their topics of choice, and even on me and our site. So use the forum we've built or don't, but please don't think that I, and many many others, didn't see your letter to Gant and where else you sent it as a complete and utter nuking of the fair board's integrity. You blatently accused them of malfeasance, corruption and political strong-arming, Bill. It wasn't hidden or suggestion, you said flat out that is what they are doing. If this isn't "bashing" I don't know what is. So if we're going to talk, it needs to be straight up and honest. I'm not going to be painted as the bad guy, loose cannon, or the person who "doesn't have the best interest of the community" in my heart simply because I'm asking questions that make certain folks uncomfortable. That's what you're doing, but somehow you're interests and techniques are valid and mine are not? Please. I'm no fan of the fair board and I most certainly agree that your slam on them may well be true. But please don't give me a holyer than though attitude about our tactics, Bill. Okay? That's not going to work and it won't lead to a constructive dialogue and frankly, it's hypocritical. That said, let's see if we can clear things up and get to work making Clearfield a better place. The ball's now in your court. Please do accept my offer to interview with me and clear these and other questions up once and for all. It may do your cause a world of good to do so. I would also suggest that Leon should accept my offer to interview as well as if he wants to gain the public confidence it would go a long way for him to anwer these and other questions openly and honestly in his own voice. Mike, I would like to thank you for suggesting that we come together and explore a bit. You're a straight up guy, and I appreciate that. Thanks fellows. Have a good weekend. Samuel Anthony Ettaro www.citizensadvocate.net www.keystonextra.com www.futuresfastforward.com www.ettaro.com |
| Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 1:44 PM | Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board FOLLOW-UP: Hi Bill, I got your read receipt this morning. Are we going to sit and talk honestly and openly about these things or no? Please advise. Sincerely, Samuel Anthony Ettaro www.citizensadvocate.net |
| Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 1:46 PM | Re: Waiting for Response from Bill Rishel and/or the Fair Board INVITATION TO THE FAIR BOARD TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES: Dear Fair Board, I am writing to address a very serious matter and to invite a representative of your Board to come onto our website in the form of a formal interview on this matter. Mr. Rishel is currently engaged in a very vocal ublic campaign against the current arrangement between the Borough and the Fair Board. We at The Citizen's Advocate have also been critical of operations and decisions that have resulted in less-than positive PR for the Fair and the Clearfield Area and have also advocated for change in the status quo. That said, we have openly questioned Mr. Rishel and his agenda and are still trying to get answers to some very basic, common-sense questions that go to the core of our issues with how things have gone over the past two years. We have tried to get answers to our questions from Borough Council, from the Fair Board, The Clearfield Chamber and Bill Rishel all to no avail. To this date, Mr. Rishel has not responded to our inquiries or invitations to come on the radio show and discuss these issues, nor has he taken advantage of our free open forum. Likewise, we have asked repeatedly for an interview with the Fair Board on these issues and have been denied the opportunity to record any such conversation. At one point, Mr. Meyer had suggested he would meet us and interview, but he is no longer with the organization and has since not responded to our requests either. It is our belief that it would be in the best nterest of the people of Clearfield to have these questions addressed and some honest straight talk about future plans be brought forth into the public arena. The questions we offered to discuss with Mr. Rishel are as follows: Killer Concepts says that you (Bill Rishel) were acting as intermediary between a "local investor" and their company and that they presented their business plan to you, it was taken to your interested parties, and that no body ever got back with them with a yes, no or an offer to negotiate further. They heard about the rejection of their plan when Janice stated in the progress that "The general feeling is why should we pay some company from outside the area to do what we can do locally ourselves." Why was this handled in this manner? What is Mr. Rishel's connection with Alan Walker and the Clearfield Chamber? Who funded Thrills in the Hills? Did the event make money or lose money? Why were there no national level big makers at that event? What solid reasons do you have to promote Leon Myer as the suggested manager for a Borough-run entity managing the fair grounds? What is is background, experience and what success stories does he have under his belt? Who was directly responsible for the strip show at Thrills in the Hills and the problems with public drunkenness and the law-enforcement issues? ( that were NOT a part of Chrome, might I add) We also have more questions pertaining to Fair operations, proceedures and policies and future development that we would bring to an interview. Please consider a formal interview with us on these issues. Your response will be posted on our website along with my efforts to address these questions and the current issues at hand with all parties involved. The people of this area deserve some straight answers. Sincerely, Samuel Anthony Ettaro www.citizensadvocate.net |
Bravenet Blog 
Blog Community
Get a Free Blog
Manage your Blog
bravenet.com