We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal. But it was a goal. And we were almost successful. Unfortunately, we thought, having consulted our list of bowl games which we found on the Internet, that the Independence Bowl was on at 8 p.m. on Dec. 26. Alas it was actually on at 5 p.m. and we missed it completely. Nonetheless, we did see some of all of the rest of the games. And we will admit, it was not always an easy task.
On Dec. 31, there were two games that over lapped time wise and two other games that were on at the exact same time. However, the real problem came on Jan. 2 when four bowl games, all featuring Big Ten teams, were on at the same time. We followed two on the television and the other two on the iPad. We quickly became confused about not only what the scores were but who was playing whom.
We rather doubt that we will set this particular goal for ourselves again. We have put it into the “once in a lifetime” category. And now we need to move on to others things, which means trying to develop an appreciation for college basketball. Alas, unlike football, we do not understand basketball. We once asked a good friend who played basketball in college to explain it to us.
We did not find the explanation, which consisted of the fact that the goal was to get the ball in the basket, overly helpful. Nonetheless, we are willing to forge ahead and see if we can make sense of it. And while working on an appreciation of basketball is high on our list, so is continuing our morning reading program.
We must say that we were somewhat worried about how the winter season might affect our desire to spend time each morning enjoying the backyard view as we merrily read away. But now that we have received what we consider to be real winter weather, we are delighted to realize that the winter landscape is everybit as delightful as the other seasons. And we have discovered that a polar fleece coat we made last year, and wore only once as someone told us it looked like a NASCAR race flag, actually makes a wonderful housecoat to curl up in during our morning readings.
Of course, while we greatly enjoy meeting our personal goals, we also have broader goals, like continuing to write this column, for the year ahead. And while there is little doubt that the column has changed over the years, we still try maintain a sense of humor while musing over the comings and goings of the village. And while we try to keep abreast of what is going on, we must admit that we find it more difficult each year. As usual there are many issues swirling around. However, as we consider them, we have come to the conclusion that a fair number of them can be considered to be under one much bigger umbrella, namely the economy. And we think it is fair to say that the economy is not where most would like it to be.
We firmly believe that living here has never been cheap. But now there are times when we wonder if living here is even possible. Obviously, given the drop in overall population, not to mention school population, there are a number of people who have already moved on. And we fear that exodus will continue if there is no solution to the financial drawbacks of living here.
Of course, we suspect that there are many suggestions out there for improving the economy. And we suspect that for each suggestion, there is some sort of a barrier holding back the viability of the suggestion.
So we have to wonder if the place to start might not be to take a look at the potential barriers to improving economic viability. And, in discussing this with friends, the point was made that for thearea to grow, the cost of living here has to compare favorably to other locations.
In part, we suspect that the recently enacted two percent property tax cap was an attempt on the part of the state to start controlling costs at the local level. However, if the recent news regarding the county property taxes is any indication, that legislation is not proving to work in the manner most people were lead to believe it would. And that leads us to muse about the possible unintended consequences of legislation and the effect that those consequences might have on the overall economic well being of an area.
Likewise, we think there would need to be a healthy job market, the lack of which is probably directly related to the declining population.
As was recently pointed out to us, the population of the village has dropped in the last 30 years from something just over 2,600 to something less than 1,900. And that fact alone makes it much more difficult for those of us still here. But it seems unrealistic to expect people to stay here if there is a less than healthy job market. All in all we suspect that finding solutions to maintain a viable economy will not be easy. But we suspect that 2012 is the year in which headway on the economy must be made. And finally, we still have the goal of sharing amusing tidbits we receive via e-mail from family and friends. To that end, we would like to share the following “Prayer for 2012:” Dear God:
For 2012, all I ask for is a big fat bank account and a slim body. Please do not mix up the two like you did last year. Amen
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column may be made by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 547-8124 or by email at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com
Columns
In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
- Columns
-
-
From Fly Creek: Revving up for spring
Time to bring you up to date on Fly Creek’s happy clambering into Spring. First, the eatery scene. “Is Jerry’s open yet?” The answer is, “Oh, yes!” The porches are freshly stained; the lawns a uniform green, and the hop vines are already climbing the posts on the covered side deck. Blue and I went up there to lunch earlier this week, and I celebrated spring with my traditional bacon, onion and Swiss cheese hamburger. We two sat on the deck, enjoying the broad view and some spectacular clouds marching across, up toward Schuyler Lake.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: More from 1986 ...
This week we continue with the discussion of telephone service from the pre-dial days. On March 12 we noted that: “No one has yet produced a telephone directory from pre-dial days, but Doug Preston of New Hartford recalls that some business (which one?) in the village had the phone number 7.”
Continued ... -
Home Notes: Celebrations abound at the Thanksgiving Home
April was a month of celebrations and much to appreciate. We had a 90th birthday celebration for Wanda Noyes on April 4 including her family and friends. Personal care staff Dee Bouck worked with residents to hand paint Easter eggs for the tree in the activity room.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: 1986 continues ...
This week we continue our journey through the columns of 1986 with the answer to the question “for whom, according to tradition, was Hannah’s Hill named?”
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Baseball book features local contributors
Baseball is part of the nation’s fabric. Most kids have a memory of the game either from playing Little League, attending a major league contest or meeting a favorite player. In Cooperstown that feeling is magnified since we are the official home of baseball. We get to see firsthand what has made the sport the national pastime.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Ya really wanna know?
SETTING: Fly Creek General Store. CAST: Assorted seated geezers, drinking coffee. [Door opens, enter heavy-set geezer; walking slowly with wide stance, maybe prostatitis.]
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Returning to 1986 ...
For the past several years now we have undertaken sharing some of the area’s oral history we have collected over the years that we have written this column. Therefore, this year, we would like to go back to 1986 to share that rather unusual year. Those who were here then no doubt remember that it was that year that the village celebrated the bicentennial of its founding.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: For reasons unknowable
[Jim’s reached back to 2002 to share one of his favorite columns.] My father was born as the last century began into a river village in tidewater Maryland. He told me once of a man there in his boyhood who, like so many, made a thin living tonging for oysters in the cold months and, in the hot and humid ones, crabbing and raising vegetables.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: CCS balancing act ... side two
Last week we shared a number of activities in which students at CCS can participate. We thought it was an impressive, if not overwhelming, list. And we are indeed pleased that the young people of our area have these opportunities. However, we think it is also important to keep in mind that these undertakings do have a cost associated with them. They are not free. In fact there are, no doubt, those who would say they do not come cheap.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: A graceful crowd
Make of this what you will, friends. I feel I’m really meant to share it with you. Despite good medication for my Parkinsonism, every four or five weeks I can sensethe symptoms building up on me, giving me more than ordinary trouble. Lately it’s been falls, and last week brought a typical one. I’d gone out to get the paper, moving along with penguin steps on the snowcoved ice patches, and usingmy spike-tipped cane the waya climber uses an ice axe. But circumstances overcame me. Parkinson’s wipes out the possibility of multi-tasking.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: This and that and the other side ...
We note that the CCS Class of 2012 is presenting its senior class play, “Snow White” by Tim Kelly, this week with performances 7:30 p.m Thursday and Friday, March 29 and 30, and at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31. All performances will be at the Nicolas J. Sterling Auditorium at the Middle/High School.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: That green thing ...
Of late we have noticed that our email inbox has been much busier than usual. In fact, we find ourselves hard pressed to keep up with all the various messages we receive. As a result we suspect we have not answered some in as timely a fashion as might be thought appropriate.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: What you need to know
In their last Sunday’s bulletins, all 84 churches of Otsego County were to have carried announcements of an important meeting; most of them did. But because the announcement is so important, and not just to the churched, here it is again.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Living the magic of ‘Hoosier’
A lot of people consider “Hoosiers” the best sports film of all time. The 1986 classic follows the exploits of a fictional small town Indiana high school basketball team in 1952 as it attempts to achieve the impossible dream of a state championship. The story is inspired by the true life achievement of the 1954 Milan team, who with an enrollment of only 161 students shocked big city power Muncie Central on a last second shot to win the state title. It’s the kind of sports story that represents something that is hard to grasp unless you live in a small town.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: The most perfect village... home to heavy industry?
We suspect we would get a whole lot more accomplished if we spent less time thinking, pondering and musing about things. In fact, there is a good possibility we might actually have completed our goal of cleaning the basement if we only focused on the task at hand, instead of trying to figure out the world around us. It almost makes us wonder if it is possible to think too much about things. We certainly hope not because should that be the case, we are in deep trouble.
Continued ... -
Up On Hawthorn Hill: The past in the present
Clichés abound about the value of photographs. Most are probably true at least to a certain extent. What I do know about an image is that it represents something of the past that is not the pastitself. But that is the power of any image. It represents something that once was. The beauty of an image, revisited, is that it functions as a catalystfor reliving in the present a past experience. My own view, one that I thank the Spanish writer Jorge Luis Borges for, is that all we ever can experience is the present.
Continued ... -
Home Notes: Workshops held for Thanksgiving Home residents
We welcomed Linda Keller, Ph.D. of the Bassett Research Institute and Ida Baker of NYCAMH who presented a six-week workshop for residents and staff.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Late-winter hamlet news
Well, at least I’m “guessing” it’s late winter now — in the winter that wasn’t. But, if not snow, I can provide a flurry of Fly Creek news to share with you, scooping Associated Press, Reuter’s, and United Press International, not to mention all local news services except our General Store.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Waiting for spring to have sprung ...
Difficult as it to believe, both January and February seem to have flown by and we find ourselves turning the calendar over to the month of March, which we have long thought is one of the more dreary months of the year. Of course, as in the pastthere are signs of spring as reflected by the tapping of the maple trees. For many years, the trees sprouted buckets to capture their all important sap. However, we now know to look for the sap collection lines that are strung from tree to tree.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Kennedy: a unique individual
It’s been almost 50 years since the Kennedy assassination shocked the nation. Since then much has been written about President John F. Kennedy and whether he would have achieved his destiny (whatever that may have been) if he had lived. It is said he inspired young people in a way that has never been equaled. And there is the notion of Camelot, espoused by his widow Jackie, that there will never be a time of hope and promise like that again.
Continued ...
-
From Fly Creek: Revving up for spring
