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.
But, family events necessitated our being in Grand Rapids and we must say that we were very glad that our younger sister had seen fit to purchase a condo there where we were able to camp out.
And although she has since moved half of her things from Texas, for most of the time that we were there, it had a definite ``make do’’ feel about it. However, we hasten to point out that the condo did sport air conditioning. So we suspect, based on what we were hearing from people on the ground here in Cooperstown, that we were much more comfortable temperature and humidly wise than we would have been here at home.
And while our time in Grand Rapids was definitely not the Cooperstown summer experience, it was not without its interesting moments. While the neighborhood in which our sister’s condo is located is relatively quiet, venturing beyond the confines of that neighborhood had us frequently thinking we were putting life and limb in extreme danger.
To say that the drivers in Michigan are fond of speed would be perhaps an understatement. In fact we were absolutely astonished at the number of vehicles which, in our opinion, ran red lights. It almost seemed that the red light meant ``gun it and get through the intersection’’ instead of ``its time to stop.’’
We think our worst such experience was when we dutifully stopped for a red light at the intersection of Breton and 44th Street only to have someone whiz by us going probably sixty miles an hour right through the red light. And while the vehicles on 44th Street, which at that point had the green light, had started into the intersection, every one of them screeched to a stop, thus avoiding what could have been, from our perspective, a horrific accident.
Of course, that was the same day that we came upon two separate accidents which appeared to at the very least do a great deal of property damage. For neither accident had the police and emergency vehicles had arrived so both times we counted ourselves fortunate that we had not been a bit earlier in our travels.
Therefore, in the article ``Why speed limits are being raised on U.S. 131, I-196 in Grand Rapids’’ by John Tunison which appeared in the ``Grand Rapids Press,’’ we were not surprised to read ``When transportation officials clocked U.S. 131 traffic speeds through the inner city two years ago, they found only 4 percent of drivers obeyed the 55 mph speed limit. Everyone else was cruising along at an average of 70 mph.’’
However, we were surprised to read that ``...as of Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Transportation bumped up the U.S. 131 speed limit to 70 mph, between Ann to 28th streets — a move intended to improve safety.’’
Evidently, the great State of Michigan ``...uses a formula, calling for hikes if 85 percent of drivers are going faster than the posted speed limit.’’’
We did not find that particularly comforting, especially since it was noted that ``The 50 mph advisory limit in the S-curve will remain the same.’’
We are inclined to wish them good luck with that. We consider ourselves fortunate that we will during our visits to Michigan not have to drive on U.S. 131 through the downtown area which includes the famous for accidents Scurve.
And we must say that we hope the concept of setting a speed limit for any road based on what the drivers choose to drive is peculiar to the State of Michigan and will not be in vogue around here anytime soon even if the Michigan ``Police don’t expect any problems with raising the limits.’’
We also discovered while in Grand Rapids that running red lights and speeding were not the only hazards one faced on the roads. The condo in which we were staying was in the midst of what must be one of the larger urban deer populations in the country. It was actually worse than the village deer population here in Cooperstown.
In fact, one evening, as we were taking off to go visit our father at his residence, we discovered a fairly large and fairly dead deer on the lawn of the condo.
As far as we could tell, the deer had run into a passing car, putting a fairly substantial dent in the driver side door. Fortunately the Grand Rapids deer removal unit picked up the deer fairly early the next morning, after it had spent the night not far from our bedroom window.
We do hasten to point out that driving issues were not the only things we encountered while in Michigan.
In fact, we quite enjoyed the ongoing discussion in the paper about the desire on the part of some residents of Grand Rapids to be allowed to raise chickens in their backyards. For what we were able to glean from the various articles, doing so would be in step with the current ``urban food movement.’’
Of course, given the heat and humidity we experienced while in Grand Rapids, we could not help but wonder if ``urbanö chickens would be less odorous than ``rural’’ chickens. Somehow we tend to doubt it.
And we were also quite taken by another article from the ``Grand Rapid Press’’ entitled ``Let fiction be your Michigan vacation guide’’ by Kim Schneider which appeared in the August 1 edition of the paper. It had never occurred to us that, according to the article ``...A novel still can transport you when the place is so vividly recognizable in your surroundings of the moment.’’ And, it seems that the author is not the only person who ``... finds a book set in or around my travel destination a travel packing must. Matt Norcross, owner of McLean and Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey [Michigan] says the same is true for many of his customers.’’ According to Mr. Norcross, ``It allows people to connect to the area in a way they may not be able to just walking around...I think everybody wants to have the feeling of being a local when they go to these places.’’
As we read this article, we began to realize that this particular concept of reading a piece of fiction that deals with one’s planned destination might well have great impact for visitors to our fair village. Might we suggest that those people planning to visit our area pick up a copy of James Fenimore Cooper’s ``The Pioneers’’ to read while vacationing here? After all, if it works in Michigan, why not in New York?
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 e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com
Columns
In These Otsego Hills: We're back from Michigan ...
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
It is with sadness that we note the passing of long time friend, and distantrelative, Jane Patrick. Over the years we have worked with Jane in a number of organizations including Women’s Club and the Community Advisory Committee at Bassett. And, of course, in later years we joined her, along with the other Dinner Belles, for any number of delicious meals. But we do think that our favorite memory that we shared with Jane was when we discovered, having both married Cooperstown natives, that we shared Cooperstown Christmas plans.
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Up On Hawthorn Hill: Bird Feeder?
Bird feeder is a relative term. At least that is the case around here. A few mornings ago we spotted the first rabbit to visit the feeders. Normally, all we see during the winter are rabbit tracks crisscrossing the gardens.
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
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Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
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In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
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.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
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Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
