July 03, 2009 08:25 am
—
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.
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