Columns
In These Otsego Hills: The End of an Era...
This column marks the
end of an era. It is no longer
written, as it has been for
over twenty-five years,
by``The Ellsworths.’’ Starting
in 1984 this column,
which started as ``Where
Nature Smiles,’’ was penned
by ``The Ellsworths,’’ the
he-we and the she-we who
famously noted, when
asked, that they each wrote
every other word.
When the he-we died
rather unexpectedly ten
years ago this month, responsibility
for the column,
which had gone through a
name change to ``In These
Otsego Hills,’’ moved from
the he-we, obviously, and
the she-we, to the she-we
and the wee-we. Just over a
year ago, the wee-she was
added to the Ellsworth
team.
However, changes in format,
which have been made
at the behest of the paper,
do not seem to be able to
successfully accommodate
``The Ellsworths’’ writing
the column. And since it
makes little sense to continue
to write the column
as ``The Ellsworths’’ when
the picture which is to accompany
the column has
but one of the three people
responsible for this column
each week. Thus, in order
to bring what is thought to
be much needed balance to
the presentation of this column
in the paper, ``The
Ellsworths’’ are out and
``Catherine Lake Ellsworth’’
is in.
One wonders what exactly
this will mean for the
column going forward. It is
thought that other than the
fact that two people have
now lost jobs, although it is
not likely to be a statistic
that will show up in the national
total of jobs lost,
probably not a lot.
The comings and goings
of the Cooperstown scene
will still be covered. Issues,
which are either in the forefront,
or should be, will continue
to be mentioned. And
musings on the irony of the
world will continue to be
noted.
In addition, there will be
no change from ``we’’ to ``I.’’
Not only is it thought that
it would be difficult to write
something other than ``we,’’
it is also thought that the
column would change unhappily
not only in its cadence
but also in its tone.
Therefore, when reading
``we’’ think not of the he-we
and the she-we or the shewe,
the wee-we and the
wee-she, but rather of me,
myself and I.
Therefore, as we, me,
myself and I, move forward
we note that the Fourth of
July Weekend is fast upon
us. And this year is no exception
when it comes to
the opportunities provided
for participation in area
events. From our point of
view, the weekend will begin
with the Presbyterian
Church’s annual Ice Cream
Social which will be held
this year on Friday, July 3
from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on
the church lawn in good
weather and on the porches
and in the chapel in inclement
weather.
At the social there will
be not only hot dogs but
also hamburgers as well
salads, lemonade and, of
course, ice cream and homemade
cake.
Additionally, handmade,
fair trade and second-hand
treasure items as well as
plants will be offered for
sale.
Then, at 8 p.m. on the
3rd, focus will shift to Lakefront
Park for a concert featuring
the Cooperstown
Community Band. Following
the concert at dusk will
be the annual Independence
Day Fireworks for
which we already have
made our reservation for a
seat on Grace Welch’s front
porch.
Coming up on July
Fourth itself is Springfield
Center’s July 4th Parade
and Celebration. The parade
begins at 11:00 a.m.
after which there will be
Brooks’ Chicken Barbeque
and a bake sale as well as
another concert by the Cooperstown
Community
Band. The theme for this
year's celebration will be
``Red, White, Blue and
Green!’’
And finally, to close out
the weekend, the 36th Annual
Middlefield Community
Day will be held on
Sunday, July 5th from 9
a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Old
Middlefield Schoolhouse in
Middlefield, New York. The
Schoolhouse, which will be
open all day, will be offering
a School Yard Picnic
and Bake Sale. Also featured
will be a day long
Middlefield Marketplace
presenting crafts, homemade
and homegrown products,
flea market items, antiques
and books. There
will also be a Union Worship
Service under the tent
at the Schoolhouse at 10
a.m., an historical scavenger
hunt for children, tours
on the hour given by Joe
Homburger along the banks
of the Cherry Valley Creek,
a Brooks’ Barbecue at the
Middlefield Fire House
from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.,
and an Ice Cream Social at
the Schoolhouse, beginning
at noon. The Small Town
Big Band will perform under
the big tent at 1 p.m.
We heartily recommend
bringing a lawn chair and
enjoying a day in Middlefield.
In closing, we not only
hope that everyone enjoys
the upcoming Fourth of
July Weekend, but that the
change made in this week’s
column meets with approval.
We note that said change
was not done without sadness
on our part. We have
thought for the past ten
years that continuing the
column with ``The Ellsworths’’
at the helm to be a
tribute to the he-we who so
loved this community and
worked so hard for its well
being. So we find losing
``The Ellsworths’’ is to lose
still another little part of
the he-we. And we do not
do it gladly even though we
know in our heart, he will
always be with us.
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
e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.
rr.com.
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
(I owe the first part of this column to an informal writers’ workshop sponsored by the Smithy Pioneer Gallery. The small group, led by Gallery Director Danielle Newell, meets Sunday afternoons and is open to anyone interested in the writing craft. As a warmup exercise on that very rainy afternoon, we each wrote a few paragraphs on the weather and emotions. Here’s what that keen group prompted me to scribble down) The dour old Scotsman, the one featured in jokes without number about buying lottery tickets, pinching pennies, scorning worldly ways, etc., once silenced a friend who was praising the beautiful weather.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: We're back from Michigan ...
Unfortunately, we once again find ourselves stuck in a time warp. When we look at the calendar, we realize that Labor Day is fast approaching. Yet, we seem to be operating under the misconception that it is still early July due in large part to the fact that we spent the almost five weeks from July 15 to August 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We feel the summer has sailed by and we, unfortunately, have not kept pace.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Censorship?
All those indebted to John Lawrence, Post-rider, and do not settle the same IMMEDIATELY may rely upon having to pay cost!! Otego, Aug. 24.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: 1984 comes to a close ... finally
As we continue traipsing through 1984, we realize that even though we were supposed to be covering the comings and goings of Cooperstown, we actually were able, even then, to touch on a number of pressing community, as well as personal, issues. Of course, much to the relief of the powers that were at CCS, the school was not among them. The he-we ran for the school board in 1984 and was elected. Thus the school was deemed off limits by the powers that were at the paper. But we discovered there was still a wide range of issues upon which we could write.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: New school book
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, Aug. 18, 1810
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Books offer tennis insights
Professional tennis sometimes seems to be the ultimate life. Where else could you travel the world, earn gobs of money, get in great shape, and have groupies from the opposite sex chasing you all the time? And you get all your equipment free to boot (which may explain why players smash racquets without remorse). Quite a glamorous life, isn’t it?
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Continuing our 1984 musings
Now that we have undertaken the beginnings of this column, we fear we find ourselves unable to stop our review of the early writings. In fact, we seem to be completely addicted to the project. And thus, we will continue to explore the very foundations on which this column has been built.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Burnett's book recalls 'Golden Age'
It’s a shame that today’s young generation missed the golden age of television from the 1960s and 70s. The fact that Hollywood studios with their ``original’’ ideas of constantly remaking hit TV shows from that era into new movies and reunion specials is quite telling. Even Fox with its ``That 70’s Show’’ is a reminder of that whimsical time.
Continued ... -
Home Notes: A place to cherish
As we enter into the middle of summer, let us pause and relish in the fact that we have been blessed with such lovely weather.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Hurray for Mother Bassett!
Just back from my annual week at Lake George’s Silver Bay, in company with about 600 other Quakers. As always, it was a great time: Friends shared silence in the early morning by the lake and during the day in the big brown-shingled tabernacle. (Silver Bay is an old YMCA camp.)
Continued ...
Plenty of fine stringed music and singing in the evenings; lots of daytime rocking-chair stints on the deep veranda, facing across rolling lawns and lake to green mountains and skies of startling blue. -
In These Otsego Hills: In the beginning
Our remembering Jerry in last week’s column has now lead us to muse about our early days of writing a weekly newspaper column.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Prohibition should not be ignored
I was an American history major in college and one topic that my professors never discussed was prohibition.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Elopement
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 21, 1810 Compiled, with comments BY HUGH C. MACDOUGALL
Continued ... -
Home Notes: Personal Care is a rewarding occupation
When I was a young girl in the early 50’s my family would often take rides through Cooperstown and the Cherry Valley area.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Remembering Jerry ...
Difficult as it is to believe, we have been a widow for eleven years this week. And yet it seems as if our late husband Jerry just died yesterday. The memory of it remains most vivid in our mind. We suppose there is much that we don’t remember about July 20, 1999. But we do remember just how much that day changed our life forever. We lost not only our spouse of 28 years, but also our best friend.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Celebrating the 4th
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 14, 1810 Compiled, with comments by
Continued ... -
Our Opinion: What’s good for the goose...
The board of trustees has decided to hire an engineer to review the work of CLA Site, the firm hired to do the site assessment and design work for the Village Gateway Project _ now known as the Cooperstown Intermodal Transit Project. That review will cost up to $12,000.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: ‘Thump-thump, dum-lum’
Since I last wrote to you I’ve been several times embraced to Mother Bassett’s bosom.
Continued ...
(Oh dear, I hope that’s not a disrespectful metaphor. But if you’ve seen photos, you know she was a handsome, dignified woman with an ample superstructure.) This time, for variety, the hospital visits at first seemed to have little to do with Parkinsonism. But a new problem had turned up that had me tested in every part of the hospital except obstetrics. -
In These Otsego Hills: Travels with The Widge...
We have decided that the role of grandmother is quite to our liking. As we have been told any number of times, as a grandparent it is perfectly acceptable to hold, play with and fawn over the grandchild until such time as said grandchild becomes fussy. And then, and this is the best part, it is completely within the purview of the grandparent to return the fussy grandchild to the parents. We love it.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Shocking accident, American arrested
On Wednesday last, as Joseph Faulkner, esq. of Middlefield, was returning home from Cherry-Valley, a gust of wind arose up suddenly, a large Elm was blown across the road, directly on Mr. Faulkner, who, together with his horse was instantly killed.
Continued ...
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
