Fellow Residents:
“What if today, we were just grateful for everything.” – Charlie Brown
I love Thanksgiving. I always have. The commercialization of Christmas has tried to wash over it for years and has failed. Halloween is now the second most commercial holiday in America, and yet Thanksgiving resists.
No presents. No songs. Nothing but time with family and friends, which, in this most unique year, is harder to accomplish.
But if you step back and think about the foundation of Thanksgiving – gratefulness and thanks – you realize why it resists the commercial temptation.
In the most recent newsletter I noted that it was trite but true – this has been a year unlike any other. So, on this Thanksgiving eve, I wanted to pass along four important messages:
1. Have a fabulous, safe, healthy Thanksgiving. Your gathering may be smaller. We are all adjusting our traditions. But if you follow Charlie Brown, there is so very much to be thankful for.
2. I am so pleased to let you know that after a robust search for the past several months, the search committee (composed of the five council members, our five Board chairs, former mayors Fromm & Boeshaar and me) have selected a new City Administrator. After a nationwide search, Jennifer Lee, our current Assistant City Administrator, will assume the lead role on January 1st.
3. The pandemic is still with us. As I noted in the newsletter, we extended our City State of Emergency to align with the County. Please be smart over Thanksgiving and the December holidays.
- Please, please, please social distance.
- If you are sick, stay home! If you think your sickness might be Covid, please get tested before you step out.
- Please follow the county guidelines on masks.
- I would also ask everyone to give people appropriate social distance in outdoor spaces – whether running on Tomahawk, walking on Belinder, or enjoying our playground.
- Be mindful of your gatherings.
4. Finally, our City Tree Lighting is this Sunday, November 29th at 5:30pm. My thanks and kudos to the Community Engagement Committee for developing a safe, County-approved plan to allow us to hold this event. I hope to see many of you there (socially distant, of course! J).
As always, if you have questions or comments, feel free to call City Hall at 913-362-9620 or email info@missionhillsks.gov. You are always welcome to email me directly at mayor@missionhillsks.gov.
Thank you and happy Thanksgiving!
