y now, you may have gotten the idea that this had something to do with money. But let's put that aside for a moment. I want to tell you a story.

A number of years ago, I put the Eldridge Park Home Page online. It soon became so popular that I had to actually set aside one day in the week to update it on a regular basis. People were sending me their photos, their stories. It has become a very popular place to "congregate" on line - far beyond anyone's wildest dreams, certainly mine.

In early 2002, Dr. Bob Lyon and his group of dedicated Elmirans joined our web site with pages of their own. They've named themselves the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, they have incorporated as a 501c(3) not-for-profit entity, and they feature regular updates on the progress of the Eldridge Carousel restoration with photos of the new animals that will occupy the Merry-Go-Round at Eldridge. Theirs is as noble a cause as any Elmiran could imagine. And as a result of their features and photos, this web page has become even more busy and the Guest Book shows it.

We get hundreds of visitors a day. And these are the kind of things I hear every day from folks like you who visit the Home Page and sign the Guest Book:

• I am so glad somebody is bringing back my memories.
• I wish my kids could have enjoyed what I did when I was growing up.
• Eldridge was a special place - thanks for this wonderful trip down memory lane.
• There's nothing like it around today. I wish I could help.

Chances are, you rode Sylvia when you were a kid. She was a Palomino then, and just recently during the off season last year she was completely restored to her original look. She is a Looff original. Her photo is at your right here on this page.

Take a look at the names in the box at your left who have decided to help bring back the memories. Over a period of four years these Elmirans and former Elmirans decided to sponsor this horse named Sylvia, which is the only original Elmira Eldridge Park Horse that will occupy the old Merry-Go-Round once it is back open for business. And by mid 2009, we completed our pledges, which amount to a total of $20,000 - enough to keep Sylvia on the Eldridge Merry-Go-Round into years of perpetuity.

If you are among those saying things like "I am so glad somebody is doing this..." or "I wish my kids could have enjoyed..." or "There's nothing like it around today, I wish I could help..." then I'd like to suggest that if you are planning to make a charitable contribution this year, it ought to be to the Eldridge Park Carousel project. How about you being one of the somebodies that helps to sponsor projects like Sylvia. You can do it in one lump sum or over a period of months or even years, whichever is better for you. It can be from your family, or in memory of someone dear to you, or anonymous, if you prefer it that way. And it is completely tax deductible.

What happens to the money? Well, your contributution, along with all the others received by the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, will become part of a fund which will keep Eldridge Park's Merry-Go-Round in operation for generations to come, a gift from folks from our generation - the Eldridge Generation - and others.

You can become someone who has stopped agonizing over the fact that Eldridge Park isn't like it used to be. You can become someonewho cares enough about bringing Eldridge back that you are willing to help sponsor projects like this wonderful animal. With your sponsorship, the park will once again be the place where Elmira kids grow up surrounded by the excitement and anticipation of going to Eldridge. And it will make you feel good about yourself - my guarantee.

To do this exciting thing, this wonderfully gracious act that says that Eldridge Park was, and is, an important part of your past and the kids and familys in Elmira's future, just click on this link and discover the projects you can participate in - find a pledge card at this link and fill it out and let us hear from you by mailing it to the EPCPS either with your donation, or as your pledge of support. We'll add your name to our list here at the EPCPS web site as one of our donors.

To each of you who have joined us in the Eldridge Generation, I want to say a special thank you. It will be a proud moment to be able to stand there beside Sylvia each time we're at the park - to stand before this important memory that has come back literally from the final, fatal swing of the wrecking ball. You are among a wonderfully special bunch of somebodies that helped make it happen. Thank you - thank you - thank you - to all my friends in the Eldridge Generation.

Bill Cook, EldridgePark.US