But while it’s wonderful to show pride for your specific neighborhood, we’d be amiss if we forget that we are all a part of the same community.

Where we’re from is a part of who we are and we are careful to make sure people get the name of our community right.

So, what is in a name?

Let’s examine the recent dedication of the Eagle River Town Center, which seems to indicate there is a lot in a name.

In his brief speech during the ceremony, Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, was quick to point out the absence of “Chugiak” in the official name of the building that he helped secure state funding to complete.

The plaque unveiled during the dedication ceremony also excluded the word “Chugiak” in the name of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, which contributed to the planning and completion of the project.

These omissions may be dismissed as a simple oversight. But considering Municipality of Anchorage officials made the plaque, there’s no excuse for getting the name of a municipal board wrong.

The plaque thanked the “Chugiak-Eagle River Parks and Recreation Advisory Board” for its contribution of $1 million to the project. The problem is the official name of the board in the city code is the “Eagle River-Chugiak…”

Some are bothered when each of the diverse and equally unique communities in the area are lumped together under the “Eagle River” umbrella, as occurred in naming the building and creating the plaque.

One can hope the municipality will correct the plaque, but if it doesn’t, remember the words penned by the great philosopher William Shakespeare in “Romeo and Juliet.” The young Juliet professed her love for Romeo, a Montague, saying, “a rose by any other name would be so sweet.”

For Juliet, it Romeo’s family name didn’t matter, she loved him nonetheless. This still rings true today. It really doesn’t matter how people refer to this place we all call home, we are still a community passionate about where we live.

The bottom line is no matter whether we live in Birchwood, Chugiak, Eagle River, Eklutna or Peters Creek, which are often all included under the “Eagle River” umbrella, a community by any other name would be so sweet.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, July 9, 2009.