CHEERS - To Dayton King. Gloversville has made it difficult in recent years for people and the press to obtain public information easily. Mayor-elect King is vowing to bring more openness to city government. He says he'll do away with a policy that requires written requests for almost every piece of information allowed out of the city clerk's office. He said he'll post a lot of public information on the city's Web site. King also said he plans to have regular office hours and be available to the public, something we haven't seen from the current mayor, Tim Hughes. In general, King is showing a willingness to reach out to the community and listen to people's concerns and ideas. Hopefully, King's actions will match his words.

JEERS - To Gloversville government. We're not sure who in city government to blame for this one, but the city cost its taxpayers $37,500 recently when it failed to make sure its insurance carrier was handling a settlement. The city was sued last year after a woman went off the end of a dead-end street and over an embankment. The city settled with the woman, but the city's insurer, New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, denied coverage because it claims it never received a notice of the settlement from the city. City Attorney John Clo said the city clerk faxed the settlement notice to the insurance company, but the company says it never received the fax. It seems like a confirmation phone call from the city after sending the fax could have prevented this problem. Because of the apparent communication breakdown, the city had to take $37,500 out of its fund balance to pay the settlement. Talk about adding insult to the city's already severe financial injuries.

CHEERS - To an indoor farmers market. Local businesses and agencies will join together next month to bring an indoor farmers market to the city. The market will take place Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Glove Performing Arts Center. Admission will be free. The market will feature more than a dozen local vendors selling items such as hand-knitted hats, candles, hand-painted bags and farm-raised meat, organizers said. Artists also will display their work. Billed as a winter farmers market, the event will be a first for Fulton County, according to Cornell Cooperative Extension. We're looking forward to seeing a good turnout.