This being the final issue of the Vine, I’m having a hard time writing the newsletter introduction, but not for the reason I thought. I just have so many things I want to cover, so rather than try to integrate ten random thoughts into one nicely flowing story, I’m just going to bullet point them all.

Although this is the final issue of the Vine newsletter, we will still use our Community Vine Facebook page to share news and information with people. If you are promoting a non-profit event, or have community news to share with people in Westminster or Ashburnham, feel free to post it on the Community Vine Facebook page. We have 2,500 Vine subscribers yet only about 400 on Facebook, so jump on over and like Community Vine now. Click here to make sure you like the *correct* Vine Facebook page.

People have sent emails asking me questions that I hadn’t even considered. A few quick answers: Since the 300 Westminster Volunteer vests have touched me last and I don’t even know who owns them, I will still plan on organizing the Townwide Earth Week Cleanup just as in previous years, I will be doing the Benefit Boutique and the new music/movies/CDs store at the Town Benefit. I will continue to get emails at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Since we announced the ‘closing up’ of the Vine in our last issue, we have received more than 200 heartfelt emails from people telling us personal stories of how the Vine helped them, how they were connected to something that improved their lives, that they met new friends, shopped and dined where they hadn’t before, and so much more. Thank you to all of you who expressed gratitude, who said they would miss the Vine, *and* that they understand why we made the decision to stop publishing.

I’ve met and gotten to know so many wonderful people over the past few years of putting the Vine together that I don’t even want to name names because I’m sure I’d inadvertently forget someone in the list of people I’d want to thank. However, I would not have been able to continue publishing the Vine during these last few months without the help of Sara Dwelly. Sara has done every administrative and technical task that I’ve asked her to without ever making one mistake. She’s reliable, competent, friendly and I think she might even know more people in town than I do! I’d hire Sara again without a second’s thought.

Somehow I managed to sell my daughter’s ski *and* snowboard boots at the ski swap and *forgot* to pick up new ones for her at the swap. So she’s got hand-me-down skis and a snowboard, but no ladies size 6.5 – 7 boots for either. Check out of FREE and WANTED story this week. It’s cleaning up some loose ends and a request for help for a few families in need seeking specific things.

I knew Jay had been plugging away at his great American novel for a year or so, but we each spin a lot of plates, so imagine my surprise to find that he finished it, and just in time for the last issue of the Vine! He cut it pretty close, as we just published the Kindle edition last night. So if you like Jay’s writing style, don’t miss my story called Jay wrote a book. I don’t know where he found the time! Check out Keeping Up…

I look forward to continuing to work with non-profits to engage local businesses and build community relationships. I’m a born connector, and will still be a resource for people, but I just can’t volunteer 60 hours a week *and* be on a deadline all the time. I felt as though I’ve been on a treadmill for the past three years that increased in speed just a tiny bit every single week and it was showing no signs of doing anything other than speeding up. It wasn’t good for my health or our family. As a special bonus to the neighbors, watch for that mulch pile to finally be moved. I figured it would be covered with snow by now.

I hate to end my final introduction on a sad note, but…On March 22, 2011, the Plamondon family lost their youngest son David in a tragic bus accident at the University of Connecticut. It was then that the seed was planted in my brain and heart that I may not be cut out for this ‘news’ thing. Over the next few days I saw stories about the details of the accident in all of the local papers.  I felt that my place was more suited to be doing what I could to help the family, attending the services, etc. I knew the Plamondon family from when our son Max played little league baseball with David, then I connected with Linda again when she cared for Jay as he recovered from brain surgery. It is very difficult to be as deeply connected to a community as I am and be expected to ‘cover’ things like this. I would never in a million years call or knock on someone’s front door during such a tragic time.

This week Westminster seems to have a dark cloud over it, with the death of a well-liked teenager as well as other families in serious crisis. I’m opting out of writing about any of it, because I can. I can only offer Linda Plamondon’s words in support of families suffering this week.  “The pain of losing a child is deep and heart wrenching. To hug and cry without being able to get your breath is what it is like. However our Ashburnham-Westminster community provides a blanket of comfort like the threads of tapestry woven so tightly together that I am able to get through the next minute to hour to day to week to month.” Our hearts go out to families dealing with tragedy and loss. The only words of comfort I have are that we *do* live in a great community full of supportive and caring people. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Pause. I couldn’t make this stuff up. Just before I dropped the kids at school this morning, the most attentive and sensitive 11 year old in my house said ‘Mom, I just have to say one thing. I think you are making a terrible mistake cancelling the Vine. Don’t you know that I’ve been listening to you and Dad talk and when you’re talking with people on the phone? What are all those people going to do when they need help or want to share their stories?' The conversation did end on a humorous note when his younger sister said ‘Yeah, I think so, too. What if a pack of wild aliens comes and attacks the town? How are people going to know?’ To which the sensitive older brother responded ‘You’re an idiot’ and they both got out of the car and walked into school.

By the way, the picture with this story is of a memory bracelet that I had made for Linda Plamondon. The bracelet was made by Becky Schofield of I Remember. Becky started her business out of her home as a way to deal with her grief after the tragic loss of her oldest son Todd. Todd was killed in a car accident with 3 of his friends early August 1, 2005 in Lancaster. Becky makes the beads out of actual flowers and crafts them into bracelets and rosary beads. I asked Linda for a blue flower and a green leaf from flowers she received when David died. David’s favorite colors were green for Oakmont and blue for UCONN.

Have a safe and healthy ‘Christmas and other holidays’ season. Keep in touch.