Falls Village Forum, Northwest Corner Chatter, Great Barrington Community Forum all helpful

Here is a post I put on the Falls Village Forum FB page. That's in Ct and also called Town of Canaan...not North Canaan but that's another story.

Thank you to all who helped with the difficult turn of events ten years ago on June 16, 2009..when teens were in trouble at the base of the Falls.

As sad as the loss of our heroic teen son Kaelan Palmer Paton's life was, thankfully no other lives were lost and his three friends were all rescued. His Memorial Service is on youtube in short segments (as will his late grandmother folksinger Caroline Paton's be after her passing this March 2019.)

His grandfather Sandy Paton passed in late July 2009. Their company Folk-Legacy Records is now part of the Smithsonian Folkways. Kaelan's maternal grandparents (my parents), Mary and Dale Palmer Srs of Falls Village passed in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

With many ties to the region, Kaelan's life and memory still spurs many in the community to supervise minors more closely especially on outdoor or water outings. His class dedicated a page to him in their yearbook.

There is also a lovely Carolina Silver Bell Tree planted in his memory by the Arboretum Committee which maintains many lovely trees and plantings around the picturesque Housatonic Valley Regional High School that sits amidst the river and mountains, with the Apppalachian Trail and railway running along the Warren Turnpike, and Music Mountain Music Festival only a few miles up the road, where Kaelan's father David Paton has been recording the classical music concerts for many summers running that are aired nationally and online.

That helps me consider all of the communities pulling together to 'stay on the map' and create meaningful efforts (some to keep the fire departments and libraries afloat.) In other ways the connections can play out at the heart level of considering how we may lean into one another's challenges personally or in larger forums.

I have been doing outreach in part on livfully.org and with letters to the newspapers to advocate for more networking and care for people at each stage of life. Many communities and causes could benefit from people around the surrounding areas and farther afield supporting and enriching the each town to keep them on the map and to share skills sets and talents.  I have felt that pull as I have learned more about Brooklyn NY in the past few years. I have also learned the importance of the Fort Greene Ship Martyr's Memorial Park area.

That stands for a delicate time in our nation's history where hundreds of Americans suffered in terrible ways as prisoner's in the Revolutionary War rather than seek security for themselves and become traitors. The whole nation can pay tribute to such a historical turn of events. I feel more people could direct important efforts to safeguarding their neighbors and friends through many forms of advocacy for health and wellness, both here and abroad.

There is growing evidence that many problems are 'solvable' if we have the will and power to direct resources to those ends. Let's not wait too long in deciding that is a worthwhile joint venture and let those things that divide our own hearts and minds or turn people against one another 'for basically no good reason' to subside. We have an important set of political and personal decisions to make..so let's put our best efforts forward as this critical time (especially for the next President of the United States. POTUS2020)

.There is a FB page in his memory as well. More areas are realizing that is a practical way to help one another and prevent problems and even promote health. Let's keep the best efforts going strong and invite more to join along.

A current effort I am sharing as I can is the Fellowship in Memory of Sheffield MA native Samya Stumo run through ThinkWell.global. Thanks for being there, one and all with a song in your heart and knowing each one plays a meaningful part in growing a strong community.

There is a fundraiser in his memory now on FB to Remember his legacy and promote safety and local scholarship with funds raised through August 1st, 2019.

Thanks for sharing and donating in memory of a loved one or cause close to your heart and sharing those efforts you support also in the comments on the fundraiser page. Best to all. Happy, safe summer..and each season of the year!