Maybe it's trite to say it in the aftermath of a nasty weather event. Or maybe we simply ought to say it more often and under different circumstances. But the best part of living in a small town is having neighbors and friends who go beyond the call of duty when a need arises.
That sentiment was widespread in Hillsboro this weekend after a burst of gale-force winds ripped branches and limbs from trees and, in some cases, left residents facing the overwhelming challenge of trying to clean up the aftermath by themselves. No need to fear, though. Folks stepped up out of nowhere and, in relatively short order, the task of cutting and cleaning up the debris was accomplished. Along the way, new friendships were made and existing ones strengthened.
In addition to neighbors and fellow residents who stepped forward, we salute our city's emergency professionals who put in long hours to fix electrical outages and help with the clean-up process. On the latter task, homeowners technically are responsible to remove their own branches. But city officials had crews picking up curbside piles first thing Monday.
No one desires a hazardous weather event like the one that hit us Friday. But the renewed faith in humanity that emerges in the aftermath almost makes it worthwhile. -DR
