I’m almost afraid to say it, but it would appear that spring has sprung. Turns out that all we needed was a few consecutive days of sunshine, coupled with temps above freezing, to melt the mountains of snow. Right on cue, green shoots, desperate to make their way up and out, burst through the earth, thus heralding the change of seasons, and may I say… just in the nick of time. Even those of us (I mean you) who positively “live for winter” were fed up and rightfully so, since it lasted for (approximately) seven months. Now that the Wonder Dog and I have completed another (semi) successful trip around the sun, it’s time to join the rest of you in the Upper Delaware River region, dig in our heels (and paws) and begin cleaning up in the aftermath of the series of storms that battered the countryside.

In-between raking and sweeping, I spied an online invitation to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Museum at Bethel Woods (June 2), which shook me to the core. “Wasn’t it only yesterday that I attended the ground-breaking ceremony?” I asked the dog, who cocked her head and yawned. “Don’t ask me,” she snarled, “I wasn’t even born yet.” That yielded my answer: no, it was not just yesterday.

Like sands through the hourglass, the days, weeks and months give way to years—and I suspect that visits to the museum (www.bethelwoodscenter.org) will increase exponentially as the granddaddy of all anniversaries looms. That’s right, the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival turns 50 next year. Of course, the spirit of Woodstock never really left, and just down the road from Bethel Woods, Yasgur Road Productions is gearing up for the 49th anniversary (www.yasgurroadreunion.com), which in turn will likely boost an entire year celebrating the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

Without question, the spirit of both Max Yasgur and Roy Howard preside over the old homestead, and when I stopped by to celebrate Earth Day with Jeryl Abramson and Zack Howard, we chatted about the upcoming (August 11 to 13) shindig. With more than 25 bands lined up and a sure-to-be-memorable drum circle on the roster, it sounds like a don’t-miss event, so I made my reservations to camp out that weekend with like-minded individuals before heading out to another anniversary party in Port Jervis.

“It can’t be 10 years!” I said, running into Wendy Stuart, who has been a supporter of the UpFront Exhibition Space since its inception. “It only gets better every year!” said the socialite on everybody’s party list. “UpFront is on fire!” she cried before veering off to chat with other well-wishers. I bumped into Facebook friend Jon Patrick McCarey, who was purchasing one of photographer Nancy Davis-Kessler’s latest floral prints. “He’s my biggest fan!” Davis-Kessler gushed. “How many photos have you bought over the years?” she asked McCarey, who grinned in response. “About 10, I think” he said. “But the best part has been making friends,” Nancy enthusiastically agreed. “This place isn’t just about great art and the people who make it,” she said. “These people are like family.”

Patrons Marylou and Bob Dietrich were quick to concur, excitedly showing me their latest acquisition: painter Anna Silberg’s “The Red Umbrella,” as “pyrographer” Todd C. Anderson looked on. Anderson’s current exhibit at UpFront is a collection of wood panels “painted” with the use of a heat pen, which burns his designs into the wood, so his pieces are both hot and cool. Boasting the work of more than 30 artists at any given time, the gallery (www.upfrontexhibitionspace.com) is (IMHO) a must-see.

On Sunday, Bethel Woods (and galleries) were once again on my mind as I popped into the Event Gallery, where in collaboration with Shandelee Music Festival, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts presented “P.L.A.Y. ( Peace, Love, Arts, You) The Classics” featuring the Young People’s Chorus (YPC) of New York City. They performed choral classics, spirituals, songs from Broadway and the works of master composers like Mozart, Ravel and Schumann. Under the (brilliant) guidance of artistic director Francisco Nuñez and associate director Elizabeth Nuñez, the “multicultural youth chorus performs a global array of festivals, cultural institutions and cities on four continents”—and now I know why.

The students, who range in age from eight to 18 are beyond talented. Their performance, which included beautifully executed choreography created by Jacquelyn Bird and stunning piano arrangements performed by Taisiya Pushkar, was inspiring in every detail. The kids spoke eloquently about the program and their participation in YPC, and the vocal prowess, poise and professionalism with which each and every student shone was simple, elegant and downright spectacular. The concert served as a kick-off for the 25th anniversary of Shandelee Music Festival (www.shandelee.org) and its Sunset Music Series, which begins on August 4 with an “Extraordinary Night of Broadway.” With so many anniversaries on the horizon, my hope is to make the sands in the hourglass last a little longer this year. So are the days of our lives.