Think Local
By Chris Hoffman
(Nov. 2013) Earlier this summer, I received the sad news that the Courier was suspending its print issues until they could find an advertising sales representative who could bring in revenue to keep the paper in print and not just online.
I could feel the tears forming in my eyes as I read this announcement, because I so believe in this paper. I know how hard Margo and Martha have worked, doing virtually everything themselves: attending town and village meetings all over the county so they could report what’s going on to their readership, writing, editing, proofing submissions, layout, pickup and delivery of new issues, handling subscriptions, paying the bills,, and trying to get advertising dollars in between everything else they were doing. Not to mention finding time to buy groceries, do the laundry, and every once in a while maybe spend some quality time with family and friends.
While all this was going on, my life became overwhelmingly busy as well, so much so that I’ve had neither the time nor the mental focus to write a column since the end of July. It’s now mid-November, it’s been dark outside since 5 pm, and it’s snowing as I write. The weeds and brush have been removed from the gardens, a giant pile of mulch that lived in my driveway for nearly two months has been dispersed throughout the gardens (by me, one wheelbarrow at a time), houseplants that lived outside all summer have been brought back inside, and I’m gearing up for another winter.
I work at the Earlville Opera House, and the spectacular 16th Annual Holiday Sale begins this year on Friday, Nov. 22, and runs for five consecutive 3-day weekends through Dec. 22.
The music continues at the Opera House through the holiday season: a celebration of Celtic music with Long Time Courting on Friday, Nov. 22 in the Arts Café; the Celtic Music of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, with Mary Jane Lamond and the Wendy McIsaac Band on Sunday, Nov. 24 in the Arts Café; an Irish Christmas with Moya Brennan on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Oneida High School Auditorium; and a Holiday Jazz in Caz concert with the David Leonhardt Jazz Group at the Catherine Cummings Theater on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Additionally, two free jazz performances are being offered, one for kids at EOH on Dec. 8 in the afternoon and one for seniors on the morning of Monday, Dec. 9 at Madison Lane in Hamilton. The EOH Holiday Tea takes place on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15.
Outside EOH, much of my time was spent writing grant applications for Save the Sherburne Inn Restoration Project, as well as being totally immersed in the business of running this new nonprofit organization as we strive to restore this historic building and reopen it as an Inn.
Thanksgiving (now just two weeks away) is next up, first a private dinner with friends in Sherburne the day before and then the “official” Thanksgiving at the Oneida Community Mansion House. Christmas takes center stage after that, and then, thankfully, January arrives, the holidays are over, and the Opera House goes dark for a month.
And perhaps then I can relax. Maybe. For a short while, at least.
In the meantime, the ladies at the helm of the Courier can never relax. Reporting and production work is relentless, deadlines don’t wait. With a new ad rep on board, this is their first print issue since August, and even though they continued to publish online, still, there’s something special about an actual paper to peruse with your first cup of coffee in the morning. And this is a special paper – created by local people, owned by people and not a conglomerate, with articles written for you concerning all the things you care about and need to know about what’s going on in Central New York.
So if you’re reading this column, please consider taking a subscription. If you own a business, consider advertising in the Courier. If you like this paper, think about supporting it with your dollars so it can continue to print and keep you informed. Nothing happens in a vacuum – we need to show we care so the things we care about succeed and endure.
Chris Hoffman lives in the village of Sherburne in her 150+ year-old house where she caters to the demands of her four cats, attempts to grow heirloom tomatoes and herbs and reads voraciously. She passionately pursues various avenues with like-minded friends to preserve and protect a sustainable rural lifestyle for everyone in Central New York.