Meet Your Cairo Republican Candidates: Debra Bogins and Michael Flaherty

 Debra Bogins

Michael Flaherty

By Jesse Angelino 

As voters here in the Town of Cairo prepare for the upcoming election on November 4, we take this opportunity to introduce two Republican-party candidates who are seeking to build on local government service and take our town into its next chapter: Deputy Supervisor Debra Bogins, running for Supervisor, and Council Member Michael Flaherty, aiming for another term on the Town Board.

Debra Bogins – Candidate for Town Supervisor,

A lifelong resident of the Town of Cairo, Debra Bogins emphasizes her deep ties to the community she calls home. With decades of service in New York State government—primarily in the budget and finance arena—Bogins says she’s well-equipped to lead the town as full-time Supervisor. In her own words:

“I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Cairo, a place I love to call my home. I retired from the state of NY working in the area of Budget and finance. Since I am retired I will be a full time Town Supervisor.”

“I have been endorsed by both the Republican Committee and the Conservative Party for election to this post, but I want you to know that I will represent everyone who lives in our great Town, regardless of their party affiliation."

“My main priority, as a Town Supervisor, will be to reduce our property taxes as much as possible and control any budget increases that may arise over the year. I will consistently eliminate wasteful spending while maintaining the funding for necessary expenses.”

“My vision … begins with a Comprehensive Plan, which the Town of Cairo is now engaged in writing. I want to bring in good paying jobs and I want to keep your sons and daughters here, working at a career and raising a family.”

Bogins currently serves on the Town Board (as a Deputy Supervisor) and stepped up when the current Supervisor opted not to run again. Her campaign platforms focus on fiscal discipline, protecting seniors, supporting working families, and leveraging Cairo’s location in Greene County for economic growth.

Potential plans for Debra's election have included her promise to hold taxes down while maintaining essential services that will resonate with many local homeowners as well as the mention of supporting home-based businesses and recruiting compatible new businesses signals an effort to diversify the town’s economic base.

The Comprehensive Plan process offers an opportunity for broader community participation—and Bogins appears ready to lead that effort.

Michael Flaherty – Candidate for Town Council Member.

Michael Flaherty is currently a member of the Town Board and is running again with a distinctly hands-on vision. When asked why he’s seeking office, he stated:

“I’m very passionate about this. What I have is not just a vision for me—it's for my community, I got my hands in this.”

Flaherty points to several recent initiatives to show his commitment:

He partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency to go door-to-door in South Cairo, performing water tests after concerns arose around the former thermostat-factory site’s possible contamination of the water supply.

He has outfitted the Cairo Police Department with upgraded technology, from modems and computers in squad cars to body-cams and a bilingual translation device for visitors to the local courthouse.

Leveraging grant money, he proposes converting the former American Martial Arts & Fitness Center dojo (on Route 32) into a senior center, complete with daily activities, a cafeteria serving lunch, and a local food bank.

Flaherty frames his candidacy as being about practical improvements in residents’ day-to-day lives—whether it’s safe drinking water, upgraded emergency services, or senior-friendly community infrastructure

The senior-center proposal signals attention to our aging population—a growing demographic in many upstate New York towns.

A reminder to voters that elections matter at the local level—town supervisors and council members make decisions that impact property taxes, local infrastructure, services, and the direction of community growth.

Be sure to vote—and, if you have questions or ideas for the Town, let your candidates (and future office-holders) hear from you.

 

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HALLOWEEN BRUNCH AND “BOOS” - Westkill Lexington Community Improvement Association Fundraiser

West Kill Lexington Community Improvement Association hosted its famous Halloween Brunch fundraiser at the West Kill Community Hall, last weekend, serving up better-than-restaurant style fare. Helping welcome guests were (left to right) Association secretary Devon Russ, Association president Lorrie Kaufmann and board member Glenda Lauten.  “We had over one-hundred people attend. It was very successful and we thank everyone,” said board member and town historian Mary Palazzolo, noting funds raised will help facilitate projects at the West Hill Community Hall such as a new handicap-accessible ramp and future building maintenance related to the lingering effects of Hurricane Irene.

It’s easy to identify lifelong local resident Nancy Dippold (center) and former Lexington town clerk Francine Melodia (right), preparing to serve delicious covered dishes to attendees of the Halloween Brunch, but who is the gruesome dude on the left, scaring everybody away?

Glenda Lauten, well known for her theatrical exploits and singing with the beloved Songbirds chorus, is bewitchingly dressed for the witching season, celebrated last weekend at the West Kill Community Hall in the town of Lexington.

 

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BETTER THAN HEARSAY - Headed for the Hills

By Michael Ryan

MOUNTAINTOP - It is election season, with a couple of, shall we say, humdingers for town supervisor in Jewett and Windham.

Before we get to them, I am electing to tell a story about a raccoon that curiously and strangely snuck up behind me the other night.

It was around one o’clock in the morning. I was out looking at the stars and the black of the night sky, or deep space or whatever is up and over and down there.

The quiet was especially hushed, with no wind. I heard a sound that could have been rose hip bush thorns scraping against metal house flashing.

I didn’t pay it any attention until it happened again, much closer, sounding more like a child kvetching, causing me do a 180 and point my trusty flashlight into the darkness where I saw the raccoon.

It was sitting on its hind legs, whimpering. My immediate thought was, “rabies.” I backed up a bit, wiggled the light and waited for a reaction.

Thinking back, I probably should have bolted but I stood there and the raccoon sat looking at me. It was pleasant, interacting that way.

The little bandit didn’t stay seated long, rising to its paws and moving in my direction, not wobbly or anything but definitely toward me.

Coming to my senses, I darted into the nearby garage, figuring if the thing followed me in there it probably meant it was sick.

It followed me in there and again, looked at me, whimpering softly. I went in the house and loaded the .410, not wanting to use it but not feeling real comfortable leaving the critter to maybe get worse.

I was hoping it would be gone when I returned but it wasn’t, so, as a last resort, I yelled at it to get the heck out of there, which it didn’t.

“Please don’t make me shoot you,” I thought, and I don’t know if the animal was a mindreader or what, but it started moseying into the yard again.

I followed the raccoon for awhile, along some trails I have mowed through the property, before losing track of it when it slipped behind a stone wall.

There has been no sight or sound of “Racky” since then. I told my neighbor about it. He wasn’t fazed at all, telling me wild creatures have been known to communicate with humans, or try to, when one of their own is hurt.

Who knows whether that was the case or not, but the raccoon was certainly doing something and never got aggressive or ran, stopping a few times on its sojourn through the trails to innocently glance back at me.

There are four people running for two supervisor seats, one each in the town of Jewett and Windham, that are politically tantalizing.

In Jewett, Greg Kroyer, the Republican incumbent, was running unopposed for a second term until suddenly he wasn’t after John Pumiiia, a fellow Republican, announced a write-in candidacy.

The announcement, three weeks ago, came amidst rising tensions within the town board that recently overflowed into a rare and very public, profanity-infused display of deep discord.

Frictions extend beyond the election and if Kroyer wins, Pumilia would keep his council seat for two more years, setting the stage for who knows what.

And tensions are not limited to Kroyer and Pumilia, also involving highway superintendent Bob Mallory, chairman of the local GOP, who has gone nose-to-nose with Kroyer.

The second humdinger - a word my dad often used - is in Windham where incumbent Republican Thomas Hoyt is opposed by Connor Exum.

Exum announced his intentions to run over a year ago, getting the local Democratic Party endorsement, this past summer, and rather quickly causing three stirs in the GOP-ruled town.

The first stir is having a Democrat run at all, although it has become less noticeable in recent years, following the 40-year stint of the late and seldom-if-ever challenged, highly respected T. Patrick Meehan.

Second is Exum’s self-described link to Anarcho-Syndicalism (you can look it up) which has apparently raised the hair on the back of the necks of Democratic Party leadership all the way to the State level.

Exum has fought back, saying the Democrats’ discomfort is fear-mongering and rooted, “in the fact that I welcome challenges to local government and a vigorous debate by our residents with their representative government to create the best policies for this community.”

Which brings us to the third stir, Hoyt’s declining of an invitation by Exum to engage in a public debate, with Hoyt doing what incumbent supervisors with six years in office often do, stick to their record.

The underdog is Exum, for sure. Hoyt is taking nothing for granted, putting up a plethora of campaign billboards, going door-to-door and airing local radio ads featuring high praise from Assemblyman Chris Tague.

Exum is active on social media and regularly attends town board meetings where he sets up a camera and is a frequent enquirer, resulting in some sparks flying between the two candidates.

If you find these kinds of things entertaining, keep your popcorn ready. New York State has changed election law, so however it goes in Windham, the outcome will be for only one year.

Voters in Windham could be back at it again next November, which is maybe why that friendly raccoon has already headed for the hills.

 

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Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon

The Town of Lexington Fire/Rescue Company Ladies Auxiliary held their annual dinner/meeting at the Chicken Run in Windham on Thursday, Oct. 23.  Attending members were:  JoEllen Schermerhorn, Charlotte Jaeger, Helen Kerr, Chris Dwon, Jannel Mellott, Rose Williams, Linda Van Etten, Carol Constable, Kathy Jordan, Ann Riccardella and guest Janice Mellott.  The ladies had delicious meals, excellent service and thoroughly enjoyed their time spent together.

The Greene Room Players Songbirds concert at the Lexington Historical Society Building on Oct. 25 was very well attended.  The Songbirds are so talented and it is such a pleasure to see and hear these ladies sing.

The West Kill/Lexington Community Improvement Association thanks everyone who came to the Halloween Brunch Oct. 26 at the Community Hall in West Kill.  As every year, the food was bountiful and delicious and so many choices.    Of course, thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this brunch such a success.

Happy birthday to Nora Carr on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Happy birthday wishes to Ann Riccardella on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Also celebrating a birthday on Nov. 4 is Emma Wilson.

Nov. 4 is Amanda Truesdell’s birthday.

Celebrating their anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 5 are Diane Pendarvis and Roger Staley.

Sue and Alfred Truesdell celebrate their wedding anniversary on Nov. 5.

Best wishes to everyone.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4 and there will be a takeout Brooks Chicken BBQ Dinner at the Lexington/West Kill UMC, 54 County Route 13A, Lexington from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., free will offering.  You are invited to have a seat and enjoy your takeout meal in the dining hall if you wish.

To honor Veterans, HTC and WAJ schools have scheduled Veterans Assemblies.  Teachers and students have outstanding programs.  HTC program is Friday, Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m. at Veterans’ Monument in Tannersville with breakfast after and again at 10:30 a.m. at the Hunter Elementary School.  WAJ’s Veterans Assembly is Monday, Nov. 10 at 1:15 p.m.

Community Night Out Veterans Day Bingo on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in the Tannersville Rescue Squad Building.  Everyone is welcome to the family-friendly event.  Doors open at 5 p.m., and games start at 6 p.m.  Admission $5, free for children and veterans.  There will be kid-friendly activities.  Food sold on site – hot dogs, chili, chips and drinks.  Presented by the American Legion and Mountain Top Library.

Thanksgiving Meal Kits for 2025 are available for anyone in our Mountain Top Community.  All requests must be in by Nov. 17.  Kits include one frozen turkey, two canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie.  Pick up Nov. 24, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Haines Falls Firehouse.  Nov. 24 delivery is available.  Contact Amber Renner at 518-821-71987 or Antoinette Fisher at 518-821-9190.  Kits are sponsored in part by the Hunter Foundation, the Platte Clove Community, HTC Community Families and Mrs. Puddle Ducks.

The Greene County Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of Nov. 3 – Nov. 7 is as follows:  Monday—Chicken Dijon, mashed potatoes, Sonoma vegetable mix, peaches; Tuesday—Vote Today—Department and all meal sites closed—no meals; Wednesday—American goulash, corn, green beans, butterscotch pudding; Thursday—Salmon with dill sauce, broccoli, rice pilaf, fresh fruit; Friday—BBQ pulled pork, baked beans, carrots, coleslaw, apple crisp.  All persons 60 and older are invited to attend.  Meals served at noon, suggested $4 donation for each meal.  Congregate reservations are required by noon at least a day in advance.  If you reserve a meal and are unable to attend, please call as soon as you can to cancel.  The number to call for the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392.

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 2, so turn your clocks back an hour before going to bed Saturday night.

Thank you to all law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, volunteers, healthcare providers, veterans, actively serving military, farmers, truck drivers and so many more.

Prayers for all who are dealing with loss, illnesses, healing, difficulties, our country, our military and their families, the world.

Until next week take care, be thankful, be safe, be respectful to others and please be kind to one another.  Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

Don’t forget Halloween is Friday, Oct. 31.  Watch out for the kiddos who are out trick or treating.

 

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

Last week’s article noted that our next bingo night was incorrect, bingo will be held on Thursday November 6 at 6 p.m. Just one of those senior moments I will blame on that misinformation. Come on out at have some fun with us and hope you are a winner. 

Our fellow war veteran, Fall is in full swing, and many VFW initiatives and deadlines are on the horizon for not only our members, but for the service members, veterans and communities we serve.

Here's a snapshot of a few important initiatives already upon us: if you’re a student veteran, or know someone who is and could use a little extra help paying for school, the VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" application is due Nov. 15. 

Sport Clips has launched its annual "Help A Hero" campaign to raise $1.35 million through Nov. 15, in support of the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program. Your next haircut can help fund scholarships for veterans and service members making the transition from military to civilian careers.

Do you know a middle or high school student who loves to write? They can win their share of more than $3 million in scholarships and awards, but only if they submit a Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen essay entry to a participating Post before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Our post will be holding a tag day on Saturday, November 8, prior to Veterans Day. We will be at the intersection of State Route 23 and County Route 296 from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m.

Stop and help support our efforts. We will be handing out American Flags. Thank you in advance for your contribution.

These funds go towards our donations to Stratton VA Hospital, our Service Officers throughout the State of NY which guide all veterans through the process of receiving their due benefits. 

Veterans Day honors all who have served in the United States Armed Forces, both living and deceased, acknowledging their sacrifice, courage, and dedication to the country. The holiday is a day to thank living veterans for their service, while its origins lie in "Armistice Day," which commemorated the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. 

Some additional facts regarding Veterans Day: Hostilities in World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice, or peace agreement, with Germany went into effect. 

Armistice Day began as a celebration recognizing the victory of the Allied forces of WWI. It was renamed Veterans Day by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 and is now dedicated to service members of all wars.

Veterans Day wasn’t always celebrated on November 11. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill, which ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day.

This bill assigned the fourth Monday of October as the original date for Veterans Day, but many states disapproved of this decision. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned Veterans Day to Nov. 11, anchoring it to this historically significance day. 

1.8 million served in the Korean War, 2.7 million served in the Vietnam War and 650,000 served in the Gulf War. This year on Veterans Day be sure to thank a veteran for their service and — even better — strike up a conversation about what they did when they were in uniform. Without them, our country would not be what it is today.

Remember to keep all who served our nation and those still serving in your thoughts and prayers. May God Bless America.

Marc Farmilette, PDC ~ Commander VFW Post 1545

 

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Mill Street to Main Street Not Easy in Windham

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - A persistent perplexity has again been brought up regarding entering the flow of traffic, going from Mill Street to Main Street in Windham, and challenges encountered in attempting to do so.

Town council members, at a meeting last week, heard a concern from resident Karen Bromley that is not exactly unfamiliar. 

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost been killed,” Bromley said, “trying to turn east onto Route 23,” from Mill Street in the heart of the downtown business district.

Bromley appealed to government leaders to alleviate the situation. Town supervisor Thomas Hoyt said the council would do what it could, while making no promises for improvement.

“Route 23 is a [New York] State road so whatever happens or doesn’t happen is controlled by them,” Hoyt explained.

Town officials have approached the State Department of Transportation on other occasions about that section of roadway.

“It’s definitely a tough intersection,” Hoyt said, noting a bumpout was added on the west side of the entryway to Route 23 when it was repaved and reconstructed in the early 2000’s.

While that improved access toward the setting sun, it did nothing to help drivers inching out of Mill Street, checking for cars, big trucks and motorcyclists coming from the east.

It is necessary, especially on a busy day in Windham, for drivers to ease into the westbound lane before zipping away from Mill Street.

Many days are busy in Windham so an orange cone has been set up in the nearest potential parking space, just east of Mill Street.

But that hasn’t resolved the issue. Hoyt suggested Bromley send a letter to the town council, detailing her experiences and her safety worries.

That letter will then be passed on to the DOT regional office in Cairo, setting in motion what will likely be a snail’s pace response.

“I can tell you this will not be a quick process,” Hoyt said, perhaps taking months before a team arrives to conduct a traffic study, then waiting for who-knows-how-long for a DOT decision.

In the meantime, many local drivers approaching the intersection from the north are taking advantage of a shortcut along Library Road, avoiding the exasperating intersection altogether.

In other matters:

—Board members set a public hearing on the 2026 budget for Wednesday, November 12, their next regular monthly council meeting (changed from Thursday, November 13, due to scheduling conflicts).

“We will be staying within the two percent tax cap,” Supervisor Hoyt said, referring to the State imposed limit on annual tax levy increases.

Preliminary numbers show $3,237,775 to be raised by taxes after factoring in a customary movement of Fund Balance and Anticipated Revenue.

Hoyt said “unfunded mandates” handed down from Albany along with the usual expected rises in insurances and unforeseeable utility cost jumps account for the higher spending.

Dollars for another fulltime worker within the town’s ambulance squad are contained in the fiscal plan, keeping staffing consistent and strong.

—Board members approved a request by resident Stephen Bemdernagel to place a decorative Menorah on the front lawn of the Centre Church.

This will be the seventh year of the holiday tradition featuring the over-sized Menorah, a multibranched candelabrum used in Jewish worship. The electric Menorah will be lighted around December 14.

—Board members, at a previous session, declined a request from the Windham Area Recreation Foundation to partner with the town on maintenance of trails, bridges, etc, at the Windham Path.

“We have the money, expertise and wherewithal to do this without burdening the taxpayers,” WARF president Nick Bove said.

WARF envisioned and built the trails at the Windham Path, providing initial maintenance prior to the town taking over the task.

Bove presented photographic documentation of spots he suggested required attention, saying, “we don’t want to get in your hair.

“We want to continue the partnership we had in the beginning and get these headaches off Gary’s plate,” Bove said, referring to highway superintendent Gary Thorington who now oversees upkeep.

“The reason the town started to maintain the Path is because it wasn’t being properly maintained,” Thorington said.

Discussion ensued, with Thorington viewing the photographs, noting some repairs or restorations had already been accomplished.

Upon Bove’s request, Hoyt offered a motion to fellow board members about having the town formally partner with WARF.

The motion was not seconded and therefore not voted on. Hoyt suggested that WARF members and Thorington walk the Path together, identifying shortfalls that could be remedied by the town.

“We have a game plan. We will address this in a professional manner. No one is going to neglect this community treasure,” Hoyt said.

 

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Together Again, and Stronger than Ever in Haines Falls

By Greg Madden

HAINES FALLS — Following the first ever “Stronger Together” session, held five months ago in May of 2025, forum organizers wondered how might these gatherings be continually received and more importantly attended.

The first session showed a strong local interest in exploring measures to strengthen our community, but several attendees wondered just how this event could go from an open discussion setting to a take action platform?  Talk, as we know, is cheap and how long would attendance remain high and committed if there were no results from these gatherings. 

Over the summer, organizers worked on a process for maximum performance that translated into tangible results.  After reviewing and processing the feedback from the first session, this time launched a different group dynamic for the second "Stronger Together.” 

This method, or process, is called “The Un-conference.” This productive platform has evolved over time getting its genesis from Harrison Owen’s “Open Space Technology” pioneered in the 1980’s . With this format attendees create their own program. It’s very simple, effective and puts proper focus on needed and important issues therefore taking the boring out of large gatherings.  It creates workspaces for accomplishment.

Barbara Swanson of Twilight Park facilitated and later commented, “We used a protocol called “open space,” which is a way of letting the people in the room create the discussion topics. This guarantees that there will be robust conversations that interest the people who attend. At our recent event on October 18th, topics such as housing, life skills classes, creating senior and youth centers, addiction recovery, creating better community communication, and food security were discussed in small groups. Conversations were exciting and plans were made for further work. That is the magic of “open space,” it works every time.” 

And it did, and very successfully. The overall theme of “Stronger Together” is to make our region of the planet better and it is accomplished with “your agenda” that you bring to the event and not just a preset programmed agenda. Favored topics are the ones that get activated. Your ideas.

Attendees presented passionate topics that filled five tables of 10 or more participants.  In some cases, topics were combined to strengthen those who felt there was synergy in those proposals.

The Mountaintop, and other surrounding communities, joined together for a second time showing that there is a momentum and appetite for improvement and expansion in our region to build stronger communities, even in remote locales, and at the grass roots level.  

Those who attended shared a unified willingness to roll up their sleeves and help get more done, instead of waiting for others to get it done, putting community first, above all else.  Folks these days are tired of waiting for others to do the work. They are willing to join ranks with town leaders and extend to them the energy they need to get things accomplished here in our region. 

First time attendee, Sasha Smith of Elka Park in Hunter remarked, “It was a great pleasure to see our community come together with specific suggestions that could benefit the mountaintop. The well run brainstorming session that ensued was made productive by the presence of the local officials and led to several actionable initiatives.” 

Town of Hunter Supervisor Sean Mahoney, who has attended both Stronger Together gatherings said, “It was great to join the ‘Stronger Together’ team once again to collaborate with leaders from across our mountaintop communities. The discussions and shared ideas from this group continue to be instrumental as we work toward shaping a stronger, more connected future for the Town and the entire region. Efforts like this remind us that when we bring our resources, knowledge, and perspectives together, we can truly make our mountaintop stronger together.”

Mayor of Tannersville, Dr. Lee McGunnigle, has also attended both sessions and shared, “Stronger Together was a perfect format to spotlight some of the challenges that our mountain top considers important. Sean Mahoney and I have formally put forth strong initiatives to address these issues. The Village of Tannersville downtown revitalization $10 million investment planted the seed for affordable housing which is underway with fifty-six (56) units under construction. The Intermunicipal comprehensive plan will put to paper the Future Vision Of The Villages and the Town of Hunter. I urge every resident to share their feelings and their thoughts in this formal process. I am dedicated to implementing solutions to many of the initiatives addressed at this conference and it will be accomplished only through the collaboration of our community.”

Marc Czermerys, Chairperson-Town of Hunter Planning Board and Chairperson-Joint Comprehensive Plan Committee, Town of Hunter, Village of Hunter, Village of Tannersville stated, “It was a great pleasure to once again gather with the “Stronger Together” team as we look to bring together leaders from across the mountaintop to find ways to better our community.  As we move forward into the process of updating the Comprehensive Plans for the Town of Hunter and the Villages of Hunter and Tannersville, the insights that this group can bring to the table will be invaluable. Their knowledge across the spectrums of community needs including housing, community resourcing, workforce training, and the general complications of living in a rural and mountainous location all are items that should and will be considered as we create a new guiding plan for us to use as a basis of area growth.  I look forward to the continued work as we all try to help our mountaintop be truly Stronger Together.”

Attendees put aside their personal feelings and choices beautifully to work as one energy for the common good for all, on causes they all agree to pursue. 

“There was a remarkable spirit of generosity among those present,  people were thinking not of themselves but of the well-being of the entire community,” said Jonathan Gross of Maplecrest.

Judy Rodgers of Haines Falls added, “So much momentum in so many directions! Food insecurity, senior center, a place for youth and great music. Let’s do it again soon.” 

All, and all communities, are welcome and to stay up on the latest information and progress on these initiatives, please follow “Stronger Together” on Facebook, by listening to WRIP 97.9 FM or online at www.StrongerTogetherMTNTop.com . 

Your ideas, help and skills make this community “Stronger Together.” 

 

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Traditionally Speaking…by Pat Larsen - The Invisible Currency

There’s an “exchange” that runs between all of us.

It takes on a form that is either spoken or implied between us that occurs quite naturally, often without being noticed. Unlike money, it doesn’t deplete when spent but actually grows outwardly the more it then circulates.

It’s the multifaceted aspect of “the exchange”  that can make or break friendships, family connections and even that expression that we have to a family pet. Or it can simply be the glue that continuously connects us through our quieter less obvious efforts to encourage each other that nourishes and binds us.  Our relationships can then develop or can help us to grow richer still, as more of this intention  circulates within the connections we perpetuate.

Between friends, this might be our way of encouraging each other with sincere honesty and through deep mindful listening whether that is occasional contact or on a day to day basis.

The exchanges between families often call for a bit more patience, simply because there is an expectation already embedded in each of us that goes beyond occasional because of the deep roots we share.

Then, simply put, it’s those expressions of love without words, that enhance the exchanges we might have that deepens bonds throughout our years together.

Our pets share the secret code also that they use to connect to us and then “we” to them. This is expressed through their eyes or perhaps with a wag of their tails that shows their appreciation. 

In our household, that exchange is often manifested through a game of fetch with a favorite toy. We all are left with a true feeling of the literal connections that our brains and our bodies so appreciate.

Yes. It's a bond that is chemical as well and in a literal sense that is released in hormonal ways.

Each transaction between individuals reminds us in not so subtle ways that we are indeed important and do matter to each other.

We might not realize how significant this concept is because it doesn’t always announce itself. I could be through a conversation that shows acknowledgement or perhaps in the ongoing defining of small aspects of our relationships that adds up even if in silent less obvious ways.

Every time we interact-whether through words or through presence…something is exchanged. It might be laughter for reassurance or a sympathetic glance of camaraderie.

That’s the beauty of “the exchange.”

Think of the electrical lines that connect us without fail.

Remember that in every relationship, new or old, we have a keen sense of each other's moods, the words contained within the silences, and the potential warmth contained in a gesture.

“Whether it’s spoken or not, deliberate or instinctive, every exchange reminds us that we matter to someone-and that, in turn, gives us something priceless to pass on.

Think about your relationships in this way and acknowledge the frequency of the exchanges that you have to fully comprehend how very gifted you are…it literally will enhance the way you live your life.

Pat Larsen is a syndicated columnist who lives, works, plays and prays with her husband of 52 years and their pup, Lily.

She loves hearing from her readership, feel free to email her at pelarsen5@aol.com or by phone 518-275-8686 if you have a story to share.

 

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