So I was out at the Farmer's Market, and like a lot of people I was verypleased to see that it was a solid success. I mean it was packed, and the vendors were as happy as the shoppers. And there was a definite buzz in the air, like "Isn't it great this was happening in Ellenville." And, like, "Wow, Ellenville is coming together and isn't this great for our community."

And, no question about it, it was.

However, there were lots and lots of Ellenville people who weren't there. Who will never be there, in fact.

For some of these folks, food is something they only buy at the supermarket, or at a Walmart, thirty-five miles away. Cost of gas is not something they factor into the equation.

For others, even the owners of local businesses who hang "Shop Local" signs in their stores, coming out to something in Ellenville would be pretty much unimaginable. These folks NEVER go out to eat in our town. They NEVER spend a dime in Ellenville, except to buy gas so they can drive somewhere else. If you talk to them privately they talk about going out just about anywhere else. They're particularly fond of Pine Bush.

Why? Oh, let's not go there. That's another rant.

It's a funny thing, community. People say they want it, but many of the people who say this, can't bring themselves to match deeds with words. Like the local artist attending an art show at our town's premium local restaurant, a joint on Canal Street that features live music on Thursdays and Saturdays. A joint that runs a continuous set of art shows, changing the pictures once every month or so.  And said local artistic personality, overheard talking about how wonderful the Rosendale Cafe is, 22 miles away, because, yeah, you got it, the Rosendale Cafe has live music twice a week! And shows art!

Of course, this local artistic personality never comes into our town's premium restaurant for live music and fine dining. Even though that restaurant has "Best of the Valley" awards all over the place and enough great reviews to cover a wall.

Odd. But this is the way a lot of Ellenville folk are. They live here, but it seems they'd really rather live somewhere else.

For instance, we have a great little theatre in our town – a place that runs live theatre all summer long, and live theatre that is consistently good, too. Lively, funny, tragic, and always put on with splendid acting and terrific stage sets. I mean, at the Shadowland they do so much with so little money that it just about constitutes a miracle of some sort. Well, I happen to know that it comes down to an enormous amount of work, plus a certain amount of luck, and an almost limitless amount of love on the part of those who work their collective behinds off to make it happen.

But hands up that big army of local people who have NEVER, not once, gone to see a show at the Shadowland. Yeah, I thought so. And my question to you is, how come?

It doesn't seem to stop there. I've met folks who won't even go to church in Ellenville, despite the fact that our town has the most incredible churching infrastructure I've ever seen for a place this size. And some really good preachers too. But no, they'd rather drive many miles elsewhere for their spiritual nourishment. Very strange.

Community is precious. In 21st century America you will observe that community is rare. The wealthy, mind you, have a lot of it. For various reasons, not entirely commercial, a web of clubs and organizations reaches out to the better off and enfolds them in a community built on class perceptions and common interests that spreads across the land. The poor, on the other hand, have virtually no community at all. What they did have has been sucked dry, destroyed by the evisceration of neighborhoods, by crime and unemployment, and then atomized by the disintegration of families. In between the extremes the rest of us have to fight for what little community we can hang onto. The behemoth power of commerce would happily strip us of anything like a local community. Giant corporations, huge box stores, faceless sales people, all of it operated by marketing departments that meet in cities far, far away, that's what big-time commerce has to offer. And, okay, so the hose costs $5 less at the box store (except that I spent $5 on gas going there and back) than at the local store, but did I get to pet the fat cat that sleeps on the counter? What counter? What cat? Or dog for that matter? Such little extras are not to be found at big box stores. Along with friendly conversation with the faceless sales staff, who are carefully monitored to make sure they aren't wasting company time. At the local store, on the other hand, not only do I get to pet the dog, I get to talk about a local issue with someone who knows and cares about it.

That, my friends is priceless. That is community.

Here in Ellenville we have the chance to keep what community we have, and to see it strengthen and grow. But for that to happen we have to want it. We have to turn out for the Farmers' Market, for the local churches (and synagogues), for our theatre and our local restaurants. We have to want to be here, and for some people that may require a major change of heart.

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