Even for us normally jaded journalists, it’s getting hard not to feel the holiday spirit. Lights are springing up all over, the night air holds the daily promise of crisp, white snowfall and holiday tunes are everywhere. Maybe that’s why a lot of the stories in this week’s Beat struck a chord of thankfulness – a chance to be mindful of all the things people and groups in our communities our doing. Sure, Thanksgiving was a couple of weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t thank others for their work when the opportunity presents itself.
Organizations like the Guardian Angels, which added 11 new members to its ranks at a graduation ceremony last week and continue to prove doubters wrong. Although city officials were dubious at the start, the Angels chapter has thrived, taking on the difficult task of patrolling the Main Street corridor in the City of Poughkeepsie and fostering a group of racially diverse and active members. According to chapter officials, the Angels have had their desired effect – mainly peaceful patrols, with a minimum of violence and heckling. Their service to the community goes beyond their nightly patrols, though – they also act as a reminder that people who profess to care about the community have a choice – get involved, or stay on the sidelines. The Poughkeepsie Guardian Angels deserve thanks.
So too, do the members of Hudson River Housing, the Poughkeepsie-based nonprofit charged with providing affordable housing for low-income individuals and families in the area. The group’s reunion last week brought together more than a dozen homeowners who purchased their residences through HRH, and all had words of support for the program. The group works with potential buyers to provide training in purchasing, rehabilitating, insuring and maintaining a residence – a well-rounded education in owning a home. As the winter months close in, the importance of having somewhere safe and warm to stay can’t be overstated. Hudson River Housing’s mission in helping the less fortunate find housing is a working model of how intelligence and compassion can make a difference in our neighbors’ lives.
By the same token, the program undertaken at Barnes and Noble in Poughkeepsie last weekend (and detailed in this space in last week’s edition) endeavored to help the Poughkeepsie Public Library District, and by all accounts, it was a success. With the appropriate voucher, up to 20 percent of some sales was donated to the library district, which supported the event by hosting readings, drawing classes and other events at the bookstore throughout the day. Suffice it to say, sacrificing a portion of holiday revenues to benefit Poughkeepsie’s libraries is a decision that deserves to be applauded.
And these are only the stories that have been captured in these pages this week. With or without the kudos, it’s effort like this that keeps our community vibrant and growing.