Thank you for the continued good work at the Beacon – the quality of the newspaper is a constant reminder of so many things that make me happy with my decision to call Andover home.

I wanted to share a recent experience. Yearly, I try to participate in clean-up day at the Andover Historical Society in Potter Place. It seems each year fewer and fewer people show up for this event, or are able to do so, or are even still around to participate! It’s amazing that each passing year, the word “mortality” becomes more clearly defined for me.

For me, the Historical Society’s cellar hole garden is a special haven where I escape, even if just for a moment of sanity, peace, and quiet in an otherwise frenzied world. Over the past few weeks I’ve stopped by the garden as the snow has dissipated to pick up twigs and limbs and to poke among the the leaves to try to capture an early sign of spring. Each time I stopped, it was apparent that someone else had also been there.

Curiosity demanded I find out who else had been working at the garden. I found the normal list of suspects – Sarah Will, Alex Estin, and Pat Cutter – and there are others, I am sure.

Then last week I stopped by, rake in hand, to begin in earnest cleaning up the winter debris. As I approached, Charlottte Clark straightened up from a stooped position in the garden. She smiled, we spoke a bit, then she quietly and meaningfully continued carefully removing leaves and twigs from among the garden plants.

It is this kind of thoughtfulness, kindness, caring, and concern that again reminds me of how lucky I am to be a small part of this community.

To everyone in public service and to those in the community-at-large who work at making Andover a nice community, please know that I appreciate it. Thank you.