President's Weekend offers a multitude of fabulous physical activities to lift your spirits and get your blood pumping in this February Heart Month. There's walking, hiking, dancing, skiing and winter sports for all. Highlights of this weekend include the following:

Start with a delightful, gossip-filled tour around the village with the newest WE-GO themed walk, "Love and Scandal." Depart from Pioneer Park on Saturday, (Valentine's Day!) at 1 p.m. for tales of elopement, divorce, thievery and general mischief-making in Cooperstown's past.

The revelry and calorie burning continues 8:30 p.m. - midnight on Saturday at the Templeton Lounge with dancing to Mark Lubell's tunes. Give your sweetie a spin for the physical and mental health of it. No cover charge.

Feeling lucky? Play stud poker at designated village merchants from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Pick up one card at each of five shops - Ellsworth and Sill, Riverwood Gifts, Cooperstown Kid Company, All and All Emporium and the new Antiques and Artifacts by L.W. Ash. Start anywhere. Turn in your hand to the Chamber of Commerce on Chestnut Street. Best hand each day wins a $50 Cooperstown gift certificate! Consolation prizes for all players. Walk a little, shop a little, and win a little (maybe a lot!)

On Sunday, take a Walk on Water as we hike three miles on the now solid Otsego Lake. Leave from the Otesaga Hotel parking lot at noon and hike up the lake to Three Mile Point, where a warming fire and hot soup and chili await. A shuttle is available to take hikers back to the hotel.

On Sunday night at 7 p.m., step into your cross country skis for a trek on the Leatherstocking Golf Course in the quarter moonlight. Meet at the small lot across from the Farmers' Museum parking. Mt. Otsego Ski Shop is offering rentals and Cafe Milano features an apres ski menu of hearty soups and entrees.

Available Saturday, Sunday and Monday: Activities at the Clark Sports Center, winter sports at Glimmerglass State Park, free sleds at Mickey's Place to use at Lake Front Park and skating at Cooperstown Village Gardens on Beaver Street.

February is the ultimate heart month, according to merchandisers, romantics and the American Heart Association. You can't miss all the hearts, festooned with ribbons and cupids. This weekend, take one or more of these great opportunities to be good to your heart, and your heartthrob.

For more information about these or any of the Presidents Weekend events, call the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce at 547-6015.

Brenda Berstler is the founder of the Walking Example Group (WE-GO) a non-profit organization encouraging walking and walkable communities. Visit their website at www.we-go.org.