All one has to do is thumb through the pages of the recent issues of
the Mercury to see that community spirit is thriving in the area.
Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, Bassett Hospital, Kinney’s
Drugs, Anderson’s Hardware Store, Price Chopper and the local Girl
Scouts are all doing their part for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
Price Chopper also has a program that helps earn free equipment for Richfield Springs Central School.
The American Legion Riders recently raised over $2,000 for their
9/11 scholarship fund. Also, the Sons of the American Legion pitched in
and built and dedicated a new barbecue pavilion to the American Legion
and the community.
Alex Shields, a resident of Richfield Springs, has been working dillegently to bring natural gas to the village.
Shields invited over a dozen guests to lunch, which he paid for, to
propose the idea. Senator James Seward referred to Shields as “the
sparkplug and initiator” of the discussions.
The Zone has a new youth coordinator. Cindy Talbot has been
volunteering for months now, relentlessly working to find the teens a
new home, as they have outgrown their current one on Main Street in
Richfield Springs.
Talbot, along with others on the Zone’s committee, are working to form a community center at the future home of the Zone.
Since the Zone was without a youth coordinator, Talbot felt it was
time to step in and fill the role, while giving up her Friday and
Saturday nights.
And finally, two long-time town supervisors have recently decided to
retire. Bob Loucks, of Cherry Valley, and Bill Homiack, of Warren, are
stepping down after each has put in more than 30 years of service to
his town.
More than one town supervisor will tell you this is a thankless job with little pay.
These men have served their towns longer than anyone could have expected, exemplifying the true meaning of community spirit.
Whether it’s because someone is in need or simply for the love of society, community spirit is alive and well.
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