CITY OF THE HILLS:

2-5-10

MERGER STUDY:  Common Council Tuesday, Feb. 2, voted unanimously for an update of the 1996 study that recommended a merger of the city and town of Oneonta.  The town board considers the matter Tuesday, Feb. 9.  (Editorial, A-4)

BACKYARD BIRDS: The 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society, Feb. 12-15, asks everyone to count the highest number of each species they see at one time at one site on one of the days, and enter their tally on the web site  www.birdsource.org/gbbc. For more information, contact John Davis at davi7js4@hughes.net or 607-547-9688.

NEXT BROWN?  Time magazine has listed Republican Richard Hanna of Cooperstown and Barneveld, who is running again against U.S. Rep. Mike Arcuri, D-24, as one of its 10 best prospects for pulling another "Scott Brown," the upset in Massachusetts' Senate race.

COUNTY IN PHOTOS:  Photographer Richard Duncan will talk about his book, “Otsego  County: Its Towns & Treasures,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Greater Oneonta Historical  Society's History Center at 183 Main St. A book signing will follow the presentation.