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Community Corner

Albany: Where No One is From, and Nothing Ever Happens?

A recent essay in a San Francisco paper caught our eye last week. We thought you might have some thoughts on it, too.

Albany made news in San Francisco last week in an essay by former Albany resident Emma Silvers, "An Albany Kid Reflects on Hometown Punks Rancid: 'That's My America.'"

The engaging and tightly-written piece, in the SF Weekly's blog section, describes Silvers' thoughts on adolescent nostalgia in relation to the band Rancid. It's definitely worth a read. 

Most notable to us at Albany Patch, however, was her description of Albany, CA: 

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"But the thing to know about Albany, California -- the awkward chunk of land, just north of North Berkeley and south of El Cerrito/Richmond, on which I grew up -- is that no one is from there. Nothing ever happens there," writes Silvers. "With a population of 18,000, the biggest event of the year is still featuring a parade full of Boy Scouts, 'art cars,' and a decades-old dunk tank. The is known to feature teenagers stealing potted plants off front porches."

It made us wonder, as we're wont to do, is this how you see Albany? Is no one from here? Does nothing ever happen here? Take a minute to let us know what you think in the comments below.

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(NB: This is no slight whatsoever against Silvers who, according to her Facebook page, graduated from Albany High in 2002. If you're lucky, we might be able to convince her to share some of her fine writing with Albany Patch in the not-too-distant future.)

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