This is not another column about our dog

We have published a lot of columns here about our greyhound, Toby, since we adopted him seven years ago. But this will not be one of them. Toby’s gone. After a sudden, painful decline, he was eased into doggie heaven by the same gentle vet who put my grandma’s dog to sleep 30 years ago. Our hearts are broken.

But this column is not about our dog! No, instead I’m focused on that special thing we get from dogs, from other pets, and from good human beings: connection.

Connection is on my mind because I’ve just returned to editing the free listings in our Community Notes, after a few years of working on other things. I’m back to interacting with the nonprofits that submit announcements, and, wow, is it gratifying! Such varied groups look to Our Town for new connections—Guardian Ad Litem finds child advocates, EcoAction finds canoeing river-cleaners, Gift from God Computer Foundation finds computer donations for needy students, Central Church finds attendees for its free healthy cooking classes…the list goes on. The best part: many tell me Our Town is their best source for connecting with new people. Okay, I’m proud! Sorry. (Blush.)

We’ve always liked publishing these items as a little bonus content. But now, I’m starting to think our Community Notes section is actually…well, kind of important, in our own little way. Media habits are so individualized now, with thousands of TV channels, websites and blogs to choose from. Call it junk mail if you must (ouch!), but Our Town is one of very few information sources that everyone in your neighborhood encounters. Everyone.

Now, I’m not saying they all read it. Some never do, I know. But they know it’s coming. And when somebody wants to see if the Scouts are selling Christmas wreaths yet, or find out when the Widow and Widowers Support Group meets, or see if there’s free concert somewhere, or is suddenly ready to volunteer, they don’t have to sign on, log in, search or click. Every month, rain or shine, boom or bust, we’re in every mailbox, bringing opportunities for connection.

Of course, we also need people to use the services of our advertisers! That’s what keeps everybody in business, including us. But even if you have no money to spend, isn’t it good to just page through Our Town and see what’s going on? And when you are ready to spend again, will you grab your Our Town or go to MyOurTown.com, please, oh please? That way, our Community Notes can keep on coming! Ah, connection…it’s the best.

Thanks so much for reading!

P.S. If you are interested in what happened to Toby, you might want to read 5 Things I Wish I’d Done Before My Dog Got Sick.