Dear Friend,
Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, the fast pace of everyday life in the nation’s capital often found its way into our home because my parents’ work in government and advocacy impacted millions of people. It was often exciting, sometimes exhausting, and Thanksgiving was always a welcomed break.
This year, one of the most exciting and exhausting of my life, I am especially grateful for this moment to stop and reflect on the blessings that unite our community.
I have to start with deep appreciation and admiration for our first responders, the professionals and volunteers who are protecting our lives, property, and forest from the Butternut Fire. Their dedicated and coordinated response to this unprecedented threat has been heroic. Likewise, our community’s overwhelming response to the call for food and drinks last week to sustain the crews was heartwarming and no surprise. It is who we are.
Fingers crossed that the winds stay calm, the holiday rain and snow forecast comes through, and our conversations about “Butternut” can soon go back to squashes and skiing, because the forest isn’t the only fire we’re dealing with.
Issues that have been smoldering for too long — affordable housing and healthcare, clean water, safe bridges, good jobs and schools, protecting our climate and the environment — are now flash points for action across our district. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I sincerely appreciate my new role as your state representative-elect to be more involved in the coordinated responses that are coming together at the local, regional and state levels. We must approach each of these challenges as opportunities to build a stronger future for everyone in our county and the Commonwealth.
Most of all, I am extra aware during this holiday of the responsibilities of being part of this extraordinary community. This year, gathered around tables to share meals and memories, let us renew our commitment to shared values of compassion, understanding, and mutual respect. Embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving by reaching out to those who may need a helping hand or a kind word. Lift up the less fortunate, check in on a neighbor, or simply thank someone who has enriched your life. Small acts of kindness can have a profound impact.
I wish you and your loved ones a holiday filled with warmth, peace, and the joy of togetherness.
Yours in service,
