The O-town Scene

Ready for a Fresh Start A FINAL EDITOR'S NOTE ... By Cassandra Miller This is my final issue of the O-Town Scene. I am leaving The Daily Star, and the Scene is a package deal (in addi- tion to being this publication's editor and designer, for The Daily Star I am a reporter, a copy editor, the Weddings editor and the Religion editor. I've been wearing a lot of hats, and it is the right time for me to put them up, although Scene editor is my favorite). I make major decisions on instinct, and listening to my intuition has pro- pelled me through some pretty wonder- ful experiences. In my final weeks at Boston Univer- sity, I decided to move to Europe to teach English instead of beginning a career stateside with my journalism degree. Adventure felt like the best option. When a friend said there was a bed for me in her apartment in Prague, I booked a flight to the Czech Republic, and fortunately landed a teaching job the day after I landed. After a few months, I was offered a position teaching English to the Czech military through the U.S. Embassy. When there was an issue with my visa (I didn't have one), I felt pulled to Italy, where I had completed my teaching certification. An opening at a school near Milan where an acquaintance was teaching was all I needed to know it was "meant to be." Italy and its people welcomed me completely for two years, and I loved every facet of my experience – the daily cappuccinos at the cafe next to my apartment; my Italian Obama-loving roommates; the Sicilian sandwich shop owner who gave complimentary meat- balls; my CEO, high school, assembly- line worker, college-age students; the language, which felt like singing to my American tongue; pizza, risotto, wine, limoncello, everything enjoyed over four-hour dinners with friends; the centuries-old sunflower-colored build- ings. There was nothing about Italy I wanted to be done with. It was just the right time to move forward. After six months working in New York City, a family emergency brought me back upstate. I substitute taught, worked at a restaurant and freelance wrote for The Daily Star while I waited to start graduate school. But, before I could pack my bags, I was offered a full-time position at the news- paper as its Community editor. Eight months later, then-new publisher Armand Nardi's enthusiasm for creating something new coupled with Daily Star Editor Sam Pollak seeing something in me brought another opportunity into my life. They tasked me with conceptualizing and designing a new weekly publication – something "young, hip and sexy." When I tried to hold a meeting with co-work- ers who had much more experience than I, I was scolded and told the publication was solely my project. Which is why I feel so connected to the Scene. While my friends have been post- ing sonograms on Facebook, I've been posting links to each issue of the Scene. It has been my baby for two years, but I think it is established enough to be able to leave in other hands. I have loved every aspect of put- ting together the Scene. It has been a dream job for an art- and music-loving control-obsessed journalist who loves learning about people and gets a thrill from working on projects. The Scene has become what I hoped it would be – a vehicle for spreading the word on how special the Oneonta area and its residents are. It's given me something to hand to people who com- plain "there is nothing to do here." "Yes, there is! And I have proof!" The Scene would not have been successful without its contributors – freelance-writing moms and college students, my Daily Star coworkers, my friends and even my family. They have made me proud of its contents. I didn't really see how wonderful this community was until after I had lived in places people outside of New York have heard of, where I honed my skill to ap- preciate other cultures. Acquaintances will usually ask follow- up questions when I talk about living in Boston, New Zealand, Prague, Italy or New York City. But when I drop "Oneonta," they admit their lack of knowledge. When this happens, I put on my teacher cap and tell them about the breweries (the same Ommegang Abbey Ale and Butternuts Pork Slap they serve in New York City and Colorado!), the minor league baseball team (John Elway and Jorge Posada played here!), the railroad heritage (largest road house!), the Cooperstown Blues Express (live music on a moving train, with drinks!), ice cream at Pie in the Sky (best in the U.S.), the gorgeous landscape, the com- munity members who genuinely care about one another. We have a treasure here. The Scene will con- tinue to spread the word on how special it is and be a guide for how to get out and enjoy it. Thank you for reading. Enjoy One- onta. June 7, 2012 O-Town Scene 3 On the front cover and below are photos by my favorite bartender, and friend, Vicki Bo- dine, of her garden. They seemed especially appropriate for the Fresh Start issue. For more, see pages 6 and 7.

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