By Greg Madden
HAINES FALLS — “Our times, they are certainly a’changing,” and yes both here and all around our globe. We are all living through turbulent times. From economic pressure, fractured politics, climate anxieties, and social isolation amplified by a decade of changing technology and pandemic aftershocks. Then there are other basic necessities to keep up. Life today is challenging.
We, Mountain toppers, reside just a few hours from the biggest city on earth, perched on a broad and jagged ridge of the Catskill Mountains, where a small, yet determined, energy has sparked and now taken root as face these challenging times head on.
Following a few years of turbulence, both locally and abroad, the seeds were planted for "Stronger Together," right here in our backyard. This group was born from the desire of many in our small, but vocal, community to pool and blend our thoughts and ideas into projects and actions that are needed by the many.
Our initial gathering of this group took place this past May in Haines Falls, New York at Peace Village. The genesis of this community strengthening group is to bring neighbors and friends into honest and productive conversation that expands into a focused unit dedicated to community-building.
During these times when regions, nations, and the world seem pulled in a thousand competing directions, these gatherings are designed to enhance and solidify our local connection, shared core values, and intentional action to take what we have and strengthen it.
The first "Stronger Together" meeting was modest, energetic and informative. During our maiden get-together, the group moved from casual conversation to purpose-driven possibilities through listening sessions about our shared local needs and how to meet them as one community.
Our modest mountain population is dwarfed by our generous acreage and dimensions, so building a path to fulfillment lands on us who dwell here to do what we need to accomplish. Does that sound like a daunting process? Well, we have devised a simplified process to produce the best results where everyone has a voice. Everyone matters.
A key memory for many who attended was the impressive community response to the first “Stronger Together.” Many mountaintop folks expressed concerns about many unattended and important issues we all face today. How can this be addressed and what action steps can come from or forum with purposeful discussion followed by action. This gathering renewed our grand old tradition of mutual aid. “Stronger Together” for our Mountaintop tweaked this to best serve the needs of the many.
According to Google, “Mutual aid traditionally has been the voluntary, reciprocal exchange of resources and services among community members for collective benefit, operating on the principle of solidarity rather than charity. It involves people giving what they can and receiving what they need, forming networks that often arise when public or private systems fail to meet community needs, especially during crises like economic downturns, pandemics, natural disasters and more.”
"Stronger Together’s" genesis comes from a handful of simple, basic and powerful values most importantly Respectful Listening, Practical Solidarity, Inclusivity without Pretense, Local Stewardship, and Civic Courage. These values will be discussed further here in the Mountaintop Eagle /WRIP 97.9 FM and at the upcoming October 18th “Stronger Together” meetup. These values aren’t just theoretical banners, they show up in how decisions are made that shape our future that we all can share and appreciate.
Large institutions sometimes move too slowly or become paralyzed by partisanship. "Stronger Together" is an antidote, not to replace these civic structures, but to make everyday life more enjoyable and resilient for everyone. Any issue you can identify can be addressed in this format. Come and experience it.
Local community involvement builds what sociologists call “social capital.” These are networks of trust and reciprocity that can soften sudden severe shocks and enable creative and efficient local problem-solving. That translates to focused teams of residents who can quickly organize mutual aid after a storm, mentor a young entrepreneur, or rally support for a local school program. Emotionally, it tethers a sense of belonging that reduces loneliness of shut ins and strengthens overall community mental health.
Moreover, these Mountaintop gatherings show that community work doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Small projects like repairing a community sign, hosting a potluck, starting a neighborhood watch for wildlife will compound into a culture of trust. This has ripple effects as businesses are more willing to collaborate, newcomers are well received, and local leaders discover a place to test solutions with immediate feedback.
"Stronger Together" has moved carefully from being a visionary concept to a process that completes projects without losing its grassroots soul. Join our group to preserve what we all love most about our Mountaintop.
"Stronger Together" welcomes participation in many forms. Show up to a meeting. share an idea, volunteer for an event or project. Offer a skill or an hour of time. If you can’t attend in person, connect through our email: StrongerTogetherMTNTop@gmail.com or website www.StrongerTogetherMTNTop.com.
Please come (and bring others) to our second gathering on Saturday, October 18, 2025 (1:00 - 4:30 pm followed with a meal) at Peace Village, 54 O’Hara Road, Haines Falls, NY 12436 - RSVP for the meal head count at http://tinyurl.com/StrongerTogether-RSVP.
We have a process to allow our Mountaintop community to be forever “Stronger Together.”
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