During the past two years, I have had to opportunity to sit and talk with some of the most interesting and remarkable people living in our Otsego County Community. I thought I would look back at some of their quotes that resonated with me, which speak to who they are and who we are as a community. Some are philosophical, some humorous and some critical. I share them with the hope that readers will enjoy reading these thoughts as much as I did when I first heard them:
“I would hope that it is not through basketball or the NAACP that I made a difference. I hope that just by being myself, I had some influence on making race relations better.” — Lee Fisher, looking back on his long career as a high school coach and as president of the Oneonta chapter of the NAACP.
“I think about how the words I used mindlessly — talking bad — might have had on this young girl. … This incident changed my approach to music and made me accountable for what I put into the world.” — King Konye, telling me about a chance meeting with a young fan of his rap music, along with her family. He then relayed to me how that meeting led him to change the words and messages of his music.
“I grew up on Main Street. The entire village brought me up. Parks, swimming, playing tennis, park dances, YMCA on Broad Street. … We’d hop on the trains downtown and jump off at The Depot.”. — Nick Lambros, on growing up in Oneonta. “Oh yeah! Oneonta is my home and I would like to help to make it the best it can be.” — Lambros’ answer to my asking him if he planned to stay in Oneonta. Sadly, this wonderful and amazing man passed away this past year.
“When I was younger, I thought there were some adults in the room. I thought there were experts who know how everything works and now I realize that we are all just trying to muddle through.” — Michael Forster Rothbart, looking back at his two years on the City of Oneonta Common Council.
“You and I, along with the businesses, are taking it on the chin.” — Oneonta Common Council Member Len Carson, talking about recent budgets requiring large tax increases in the city of Oneonta. “The experts keep telling us that we need this.” — Carson, explaining why the council continues to approve the budgets.
“Not one minute elapsed when I wasn’t very, very happy doing what I was doing despite three to four feet of snow, losing the trail, mosquitos and being dirty and uncomfortable. … Every day was a total joy for me. It felt like a gift. I would continuously remind myself how lucky I was to be standing here looking at these endlessly beautiful vistas.” — Paul Bischoff describing his experience having spent 145 days hiking alone from Mexico to Canada, covering the 2,653 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.
“The reason we have a bus company is to give people bus rides.” — Oneonta Common Council Member Don Mathisen on explaining why he objects to the city having spent millions of dollars to build a large transit hub.
In my job as a major general, I had a lot of responsibility. That’s not who I am. Now I am here being a husband, a father, a grandfather and couldn’t care less about what I did before. I went up through the ranks but I am no different than the person who has to clean the place. We all have to do what it is we are supposed to do to the best of our ability.” — Tony German, looking back at his career and a time when, as adjutant general of the state of New York, he had 20,000 men and women under his command.
“My upbringing in Oneonta was in a community that resoundingly lifted us all up and told us, ‘Yes, we can.’” — Sarah Hartmann, founder of Vesucre vegan deserts.
To be continued…