—
Over the years we have tended to try and keep track of what has been written about our fair community in an attempt to understand what exactly strikes others about Cooperstown. Sometimes we feel the nail has been hit squarely on the head. Others times we think the writer has missed by a mile.
But we have never been as disappointed by a characterization of Cooperstown as we were by what was evidently said about Cooperstown as reported by Denise Richardson in an article entitled ``Baseball camp season `nice switch’ for area,’’ which appeared in the June 15 edition of ``The Daily Star.’’
In that article the executive director of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce is quoted as saying ``We’re a baseball community...’’ We were stunned. There is no denying that baseball is indeed a part of our community. But to claim that we are a ``baseball community’’ does not seem to present an accurate picture of that which is Cooperstown, at least not as we know it. We believe the argument was being made that the tourist industry is a major player in the economy of Cooperstown.
And while we admit it is a player, it would seem that there are other forces that are bigger drivers of the economy of Cooperstown, starting with the Bassett Medical Center. We cannot help but be struck by the fact that all of the residential real estate transactions at our end of Pioneer Street have been driven by the presence of Bassett. Hospital dollars also have a huge impact on employment in the area. Beyond Bassett’s input, consideration must also be given to the impact of both the county seat and the school district being located in Cooperstown as well as all the local businesses which provide the goods and services necessary for those of us who actually live here. For the most part, the visitors to Cooperstown are welcomed by the residents. But for many of us, tourism is not a driving force in our lives. And it is certainly not the way we choose to define ourselves. Instead, we would suggest that our true identity can be found in what we do as represented by those events which we have been asked to include in this week’s column.
The first of these is the annual Ice Cream Social at the Presbyterian Church located on Pioneer Street. This year it will be held on Friday, July 2 from 5 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 as a choice of macaroni salad, coleslaw, three bean salad or baked beans, lemonade, coffee and, of course, ice cream and homemade cake. Additionally, handicrafts, baked goods and second-hand treasure items as well as plants will be offered for sale. There will also be games and other activities for the children.
Following the Ice Cream Social, it will be possible to take in the Cooperstown Community Band Concert starting at 8 p.m., at Lakefront Park. The concert will be followed by the annual Fourth of July fireworks display sponsored by the Cooperstown Fire Department. All in all, these events offer a great way to start the Fourth of July weekend.
We have also been asked by Grace Kull to mention that she has learned that her charity:water well, for which she solicited funds from the community to add to her donation of her salary as a Village Trustee. Her e-mail to us regarding the well reads: ``I forwarded an email that I received from charity:water showing how a well is built and some of the people it affects.áI thought it would be interesting for the people who donated to the well to see it. I received the word that our well is being dug in Cote d’Ivoire, ...the Ivory Coast of Africa. Would you put this information in your column?
We willáreceive pictures of our actual well and the Village in which it is being dug, after it is completed.’’
Not only are we happy to report that our well is being dug, but we also note that should anyone wish to see the results of digging such a well, the website is www.charitywater. org/mailings/jean_bosco.
html. We look forward to seeing Grace’s well completed and learning more about the village it will be benefiting.
And while thinking about charitable undertakings, we would like to point out that the Fenimore Quilt Club, the group that sponsors the annual Cooperstown Quilt Show each February at the Cooperstown Art Association Galleries, has taken on two philanthropic projects this year. Club members are making heart pillows for cardiac patients at the Bassett Medical Center.
They have graciously taken on this project as the local group that has been making these pillows for a number of years now is no longer able to continue. We greatly appreciate the club’s willingness to help the heart pillow project continue.
We are also impressed that the Fenimore Quilt Club has undertaken a project to make colorful pillowcases for residents at the Manor. This is, we think, no small undertaking and we salute them for taking on such a project. We also note that both of these projects speak volumes about what we feel defines our community, namely the people who live in it.
In closing, while we understand that baseball is very much a part of our community, we feel it is vitally important that the Cooperstown community be defined by the actions and deeds of its residents. We believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said, ``Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.’’
To this we feel we must add a quote from Virginia Satire, American Psychologist and Educator. 1916-1988, who said, ``We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us.’’ We could not agree more. Cooperstown is so much more than a ``baseball community.’’ Its residents prove that each and every day.
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column may be made by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by email at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
