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WHERE NATURE SMILES

‘Hark The Herald Angels’

Echoes From Main Street

Editor’s Note:  The muse, evident in the poem that was last week’s “Where Nature Smiles” column, caused the poet (and our columnist) Catherine Lake Ellsworth, to reprise one of her favorites, from 1988.  Next week, “Where Nature Smiles” – in verse or prose? – will return to the editorial pages of Hometown Oneonta and The Freeman’s Journal.

By CATHERINE LAKE ELLSWORTH • AllOTSEGO Columnist

With apologies to “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” we offer the

COOPERSTOWN CAROL FROM 1988…

         Three hundred thousand tourists came

  Just to see the Hall of Fame.

But they found no place to park

  And nothing to do after dark.

As they walked upon the street

  Litter fell beneath their feet.

Hordes of tourists this way come

  To visit our town.  It’s fun for some.

The now historic Higgins place

  Is taking up more parking space.

As down the road it did roam

  To find itself a brand new home.

Now it sits across the street

  From part of the county seat.

Hordes of tourists this way come

  To visit our town.  It’s fun for some.

Trash may come, but trash won’t go

  ‘Cause there’s no landfill as you know.

Recycle, recycle is all that’s heard

  Spoken as a magic word.

But will tourists recycle their junk

  Or toss it out with quite a clunk?

Hordes of tourists this way come

  To visit our town.  It’s fun for some.

When you drive upon the street

  You hope no other car to meet

Because with parking on both sides

  You can have some scary rides.

Elk Street has now gotten relief

  So should others is our belief.

Hordes of tourists this way come

  To visit our town.  It’s fun for some.

Next year “They’ll Love New York”

  With activities of every sort.

Increasing numbers with great promotion

  In the village will cause commotion.

Having more tourists here next year

  Is the native’s greatest fear.

Hordes of tourists this way come

  To visit our town.  It’s fun for some.

Living here for peace and quiet

  Finds the summer is more like a riot.

Fighting crowds throughout the town

  Turns that smile into a frown.

Take advice from a friendly seer,

  Get out of town before next year.

Hordes of tourists this way come

  To visit our town.  It’s fun for some.

PLEASE NOTE:  Comments regarding this column may be made by mail to 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. Or, for more thoughts about the comings and goings of Cooperstown, visit the website, cooperstowntoday.com.

 

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Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.