It would seem, although we are never quite certain about the weather, that spring will actually come this year. Why this should surprise us, we do not know. However, there were times this past winter when we seriously doubted that the snow and ice would actually melt and give way to green grass, leaf laden trees and blooming flowers. But so far, so good.

A while back we received an e-mail from Carol Parshall Compton who grew up across the street at about the same time that the he-we grew up on our side of the street. She wondered how the neighborhood was faring and whether or not it has changed a great deal. All in all, we assured her that the neighborhood was holding up reasonably well although we doubted she would recognize it as the one she grew up in. Carol was kind enough to share her thoughts about the neighborhood as it was during her childhood.

She wrote: "...When we were kids we played at each other's houses and trekked about ... walked our pets. I remember going with Maude [the he-we's grandmother] to walk her dog up and down the street when we were very little. We went out after supper and walked around or went to the tennis courts behind Basset Hall. People would be out on their porches and everybody socialized. We went down to a large lot owned by Bud Spraker at the back of his Pioneer Street land which went almost to Susquehanna Avenue. He set up a baseball field and swings down there. We went through your back yard to Pam and Patti Sherman's house and Sally Lippitt and a bunch of "Fair Street" kids joined us there ... When we were little, if we got hurt and our mom was not around at that very moment we knew exactly to go to our neighbor. Everyone knew where to go, what to do ... if I went to Enid's [the he-we's mother] door bleeding ... she took me to the ER..."

We, of course, had a "bleeding" incident with the wee-we when he fell on a glass bottle near the river and was taken by "some lady" to the ER.

We received a call from his friend, Eric, who told us that Christopher had been hurt and was at the hospital. By the time we arrived on the scene he was ensconced in an ER examining room, under the watchful eye of one of our nursing friends. We would like to think that Cooperstown still works in much this same way. We suspect it does even though we have not personally had the opportunity, fortunately, to check it out first hand. Of course, based on some of the attitudes of some residents that have surfaced in the paper of late, we do worry that such neighborliness may not always be the case. We also would hate to think that neighbors are only there in times of need. Perhaps more of us need to follow the example set by Eagle Street and have neighborhood block parties throughout the year where neighbors can get together and simply socialize. We'll suggest it to the Upper Pioneer Street Neighbor Association at their next meeting.

Our cracker jack research librarian recently sent us an article, entitled "Paradise could be lost in the wind," from the April 13, 2003 Albany Times Union. It dealt with the much discussed possibility of wind power being generated in Cherry Valley.

The article concludes with: "There's local opposition, and a debate is growing. Generally pitting relative newcomers against natives, those pushing economic development against those who feel Cherry Valley, in sight of Otsego Lake, is already paradise revealed and doesn't need wings to make it to heaven." We were, needless to say, somewhat bemused by the statement that Cherry Valley is in sight of Otsego Lake. How, we wonder, has the topography been altered to make this possible? And why haven't we heard about this dramatic change? We guess we really do need to get out more to keep in touch with what is happening where.

We did manage, last Friday, to make it to the opening of the Cooperstown Central School Art Exhibition at the Cooperstown Art Association Gallery C in the Village of Cooperstown Library Building. Each year, we always enjoy seeing all of the students' art work and this year was no exception. It is, without doubt, a most colorful and creative show. Our congratulations go to all the exhibitors as well as their teachers who also desire credit for their contribution to the show. The show, which will run through May 30, is open daily, except Tuesdays, 11-4 and Sundays 1-4.

In closing, we wish to extend an invitation to community groups and organizations to let us know about any upcoming events which may be in the works. We always like to include such information in this column and so would appreciate hearing about it.

We remain,

In these Otsego hills,

Where nature smiles,

The Ellsworths

The Ellsworths may be reached by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail at gbecle@wpe.com. They look forward to hearing from you.