Hello, friends and neighbors. As the holiday season draws near, I’m honored to be a part of this great city to celebrate the spirit that makes our city not just a collection of streets and buildings, but a community of caring hearts. These days, we hear much about challenges—rising costs, uncertainty, loss—and it’s true that many among us are feeling the weight of hard times. Yet it is precisely in these moments when our compassion and generosity can shine brightest.
I. Remembering Where We’ve Been\ When I think of the holidays, I think first of the traditions that bind us. I remember bundled-up children pressing their noses to frosty windows, elders sharing family recipes in wood-paneled kitchens, and neighbors gathering in our town square, drawn together by the lights, the laughter, and the hope each season brings. In years past, we’ve celebrated weddings and anniversaries, mourned farewells and shared healing embraces. Those memories are a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of the people who came before us—people who, in spite of their own struggles, made room for joy and connection. This holiday season, let us honor their legacy by passing forward the generosity they showed us.
II. Acknowledging Today’s Challenges\ I know that for many of us, this year has asked a great deal. Some have lost jobs or watched small businesses close their doors. Others have faced illness or the loneliness of distance from loved ones. But our community is resilient. When difficulties arise, we step up for one another. We’ve seen it in the parents who formed informal childcare co-ops, in the neighbors who shared firewood when the heater broke or a fan when the heat was unbearable, in the volunteers who delivered groceries to shut-ins when no one else could. That spirit of looking out for one another—that is our greatest gift.
III. The Power of Small Acts\ It’s easy to assume that big problems require big gestures. But often the simplest acts leave the deepest impressions. A warm meal for a family in need. A handwritten note of encouragement to someone who’s feeling down. An hour of your time helping to decorate the city park or reading to children at the local library. Each of these small deeds spreads hope and reminds people they are seen, they are valued, and they matter. If everyone were to commit just one small act of kindness this season—just one—our city would glow with more warmth than all the holiday lights combined.
IV. Volunteerism: Time Well Spent\ I’d like to invite each of you, if you’re able, to step into volunteer roles this season. Our food banks, library, community center, senior homes and our senior center—they all need hands, hearts, and willing souls right now. Perhaps you can help serve a holiday meal, sort donations, read stories, or simply offer companionship. If you can’t give money, give your time. If you can’t spare three hours, spare one. You will be astonished by how much of a difference you’ll make. And I promise, you’ll leave with a sense of purpose and connection that nourishes your own spirit.
V. A Lasting Impression\ We all have the power to make a lasting impression on someone’s life this season. Imagine a teenager who’s facing their first holiday without their parents. A senior who’s forgotten what it feels like to receive a gift. A family who is in transit from one state to another, wondering if there’s a safe place to sleep tonight. Your kindness could be the turning point—a meal they’ll remember, a gift that gives them hope, a conversation that reassures them they aren’t alone. Those are the stories we’ll tell next year, the memories that will shine as brightly as the holiday star atop our city water tower.
VI. Lifting Our City Up\ A community that cares for its own is a community that thrives. When we lift each other up, we lift our local businesses, our schools, our parks, and our shared future. We become a beacon for neighboring towns and a model for what genuine community living can look like. So I challenge each of you: reach beyond your usual circle this season. Invite someone new to dinner. Deliver a tray of cookies to your local fire station. Volunteer for that holiday drive. Every connection you make, every kindness you offer, builds momentum. Together, we create a wave of goodwill that cannot be ignored.
VII. Embracing Hope for the Future\ Holidays is not only about giving; it’s about believing. Believing that better days lie ahead. Believing that the next child born to our city will grow up surrounded by compassion. Believing that the seeds of hope we plant now will blossom into opportunity and success for everyone. The holiday season is both a celebration of what was and a promise of what can be. As we light candles, trim trees, and share songs, let us carry forward not just the joy of the moment, but the vision of a future built on solidarity, empathy, and collective effort.
VIII. Closing Call to Action\ Friends, I know the road ahead may still hold bumps and detours. But if we walk it side by side—if we shop locally, volunteer eagerly, check in on one another, and extend our hands to lift up the most vulnerable among us—there is no challenge we cannot overcome together. This holiday season, let our actions speak louder than any carol. Let our giving hearts be the true decoration of our streets and homes. Let our shared stories of kindness become the legacy we pass on to the next generation.
So now, I ask you: what will your act of kindness be? Whose life will you brighten? How will you help us create a holiday season that everyone in our city can share and remember with pride? Stand with me, reach out to your neighbor, and let’s make this the most uplifting holiday our community has ever known. Together, we will light the way forward—and in doing so, discover the true wonder and promise of the season.
Thank you, and may your holidays be filled with warmth, hope, and the joy of giving.
God Bless You All
Mayor Charles Shupe