I’ve had so many experiences over the past two-and-a-half years that I never imagined having — all without venturing too far from my hometown of Cazenovia.
Some people around my age think you have to travel to the moon and back if you want to see the world. And while that may be true in the literal sense, I’ve learned that there’s much to explore right in your own backyard, wherever that may be.
For one, this job has taken me inside village and town halls across the county. I’ve gotten to see healthy taxpayer involvement lead to local laws that are best for the community. I’ve also seen elected officials berated over the best of intentions and questionable legislation passed without anyone batting an eye. I’ve derived two things: no two municipalities are the same, and I’ll think twice before becoming a public servant.
I’ve gotten some fresh air, too. Did you know Marcellus’s wastewater treatment plant has a composting facility that turns human waste into quality fertilizer? I do. I toured it twice for this job.
There have been times when this job didn’t feel like work, and those times were especially sweet. I learned what Chocolate Pizza was the easy way (using my sense of taste) and for those who don’t know, it’s not cheesy pizza with chocolate on top. Think tasty chocolate that happens to be pizza-shaped.
Just recently I got to go inside Sno Top. I wonder how many people, employees aside, can say that.
Then there was the time I got a text message from the county executive herself. That was pretty sweet, too.
These experiences have made for more than just good stories — they’ve helped make me the person I am today. Which is why I’ve been holding off on saying what it is I have to say in this column: this is my last week on the job. I’m leaving to take a reporter job at a daily newspaper, the Utica Observer-Dispatch, where I plan to build on the skills I’ve gained here.
It’s been a great run, and I thank you all for letting me share your stories. You may not have known you were giving me so many stories of my own.
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