December 19, 2022, Mayor's Column

President John F Kennedy said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” As we enjoy the holiday season and the tradition of counting our blessings, I thought there was no better time to stop and share my gratitude.

Covid certainly changed all our lives, but I also think it has brought words like gratitude, blessed, loved, and appreciated more to the fore. My personal thanks starts with you, all of the Village residents, who have given me the opportunity to be part of the exceptional leadership team governing our special home. It has been the job and the honor of a lifetime. I thank everyone in Village government starting with my extraordinarily talented. Trustee colleagues, who give countless hours in stewardship, to our Police Department and our DPW staff, the administrative staff, judicial team and our entire library staff who handle everything with uncommon grace and unflappability.

I think our Village proves what David Brooks once said in an editorial that there is a lot of surplus kindness in daily life that could not be explained by logic. It could be explained by gratitude, which is the form of social glue that binds us all together with connections that are nurtured, not by self-interest, but by loyalty and service.

There is also no better moment to also thank the dozens of Village residents who stepped up in 2022 to volunteer on behalf of their government. Without these dedicated citizens mentioned below, the Trustees and I could not operate the government with efficiency - have plans reviewed and approved, new initiatives put forward and projects imagined. Their efforts resulted in literally thousands of donated hours of time, expertise, professionalism, all guided by their love of the Village. This list is not only a big thank you on behalf of the entire Village Hall team, but also alerts you to the names of your neighbors on committees that might be of help with various questions, or needed advice in their areas of expertise. 

They truly exemplify the words of Gandhi, who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

If we inadvertently forgot anyone, I apologize in advance and will mention as a deserved addendum next week.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill.