I am impressed with and buoyed by the passion of the criticism, controversy and feelings expressed by so many about the "City of the Hills" and "Life Enjoyed."
The fact that so many comments have come from distant locations (Morris, New Berlin, Cooperstown, Davenport, Connecticut, etc.) only supports the fact that Oneonta is the center of a broadly defined community.
As I have said publicly, Oneonta is, always has been, and always will be known as the City of the Hills. "Life Enjoyed" and "City of the Hills" can easily coexist as phrases by which our community is known.
"City of the Hills" has never been formally adopted by any entity as an official brand of the community. Neither has "Life Enjoyed." It is hard to stand anywhere in Oneonta or drive through it and not see part of the hills that surround us.
Personally, I am most comfortable surrounded by hills and mountains, and have always loved the phrase from the Bible "lift up your eyes unto the hills from which shall come your strength."
But when trying to encourage people to visit, hills are not a uniquely distinguishing characteristic. There are plenty of places to go with hills and mountains, more spectacular than Oneonta.
The distinguishing characteristic of this community that the Glenn Group brought into focus is how much we all love it.
I have felt that magic since the first months here in the summer of 2003 and have articulated it to those who inquire about Oneonta. I believe that "Life Enjoyed" not only expresses what the community feels, but can also bring people here to work, study and recreate.
The organizations that selected the Glenn Group and paid for the brand have, as part of their objectives, a critical need to bring employees, physicians, faculty, students and investors here. The reason to come is the quality of the life we enjoy. The fact that that life takes place in the ambiance of the "City of the Hills" is frosting on the cake.
I will continue to use both terms and will encourage those who spend money to bring outside people and their resources to this community to use "Life Enjoyed."
I will celebrate the visual enjoyment I feel from our surrounding hills while enthusiastically and sincerely telling people unfamiliar with Oneonta about the wonderful community of people and activities here.
And, by the way, the Glenn Group did a terrific job identifying the uniqueness of Oneonta and proposing "Life Enjoyed" at a cost for such creative services that was very reasonable and competitive. The term is indeed grammatically correct and no tax dollars were used to fund the project.
I encourage everyone to appreciate the "City of the Hills" and communicate "Life Enjoyed" to all those who want to know why we love Oneonta.
Dick Miller is mayor of the city of Oneonta.
Columns
Brand captures what makes Oneonta special
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
Ask any hospital administrators if they've ever heard of a closed hospital in New York state that has ever been re-opened. They will say, "Impossible." In a half century of going through records you can't find any.
Continued ... - Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
- Opera great's visit still a thrilling memory
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Cary Brunswick
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We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
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We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
- A closer look at our economy - Part II
- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
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A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
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- Mark Simonson
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General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
Ever since 1963, when Charles Hinkley and a group of Tri-Town businessmen came up with the idea for what we know today as the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, people lined the shores of the Susquehanna to watch the canoeists as they made their 70-mile trek from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.
Continued ... - Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
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- Rick Brockway
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
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Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
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Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
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Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
