Someone once told me in jest that there are folks in Sandisfield who wouldn't open, much less read a get-well card if it came from me. So, I'm taking a risk writing what you see below with the hopes folks in Sandisfield will read it.

Despite what many users of the transfer station may have been told or read on social media, the Swap Shop clean-up was NOT a nefarious plan to retaliate against any one individual.

The fact that three months after the clean-up the false narrative of an ulterior, retaliative motive is still being circulated is not only sad and damaging to the individuals involved, it is preposterous.

What Was it All About?

Two senior ladies, as they had done in previous years, picked a day when the Transfer Station was closed to clean the overloaded Swap Shop as part of their Senior Tax Work-off. The selectman who came to help with the heavy lifting was simply helping two senior citizens - at their request. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Swap Shop was closed for a couple of days for a total cleanout which gave time for a reprinting of the rules as to what items were allowed, basically the same items that were allowed when the Swap Shop opened in June, 2020. The information on the new signs is the same as what is and has been on the town website for six years.

Again, nothing more, nothing less.

After the Good Deed?

The vitriol and nastiness that followed the temporary shutdown was surprising and disturbing.

Individuals involved in the clean-up were accused of being vindictive, wicked, acting unilaterally, engaging in harassment, and finally - my four favorites - mentally unstable to the point of needing meds, should move out of town, performing ICE-like raids, and acting like despots.

Wow .... All of this anger and name calling because trash (rusty utensils, disgusting egg cartons, chipped and broken plates and glassware, filthy stuffed animals, and nasty rugs) and many mildewed books and magazines were thrown away.

But Beyond the Cleanup

Most upsetting about the Swap Shop drama is that things we should value in our town and treat as precious, such as the volunteers who helped clean up the Swap Shop that day, were treated like trash. While the trash that was thrown out was treated as if it was the most precious thing in our town.

As a lifelong lover of tag sales, I completely understand that "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Still, I hope we all never lose sight of the fact that people - especially those who step up and give of their time and energy to our town - are our real "treasures."

As late as mid-October, folks were still asking why there were no books in the Swap Shop. Books can't be stored long in an uninsulated shed. There have been suggestions to start an online book swap, a book-labelling option, and a Little Library. In the meantime, a plan to deal with donated books is in the works. (See "Transfer Station to Add Book Donation Bin".)

As was reported in last month's Times, four people have signed up to monitor the Swap Shop. That's good.

It's time to focus our energy on more important issues. Of course, we all have different priorities. Still, when having conversations to determine what is important, we should try to be civil, stick to the facts, and bring legitimate concerns to town leadership rather than angrily post on social media comments such as people "have some explaining to do," accusing people of engaging in "ICE-like raids," being "despots," "wicked," needing "meds," or recommending that they should move away.

While it's not always easy, we should all make the effort to find common ground in our community rather than manufacture problems and drama that result in division like what we've experienced with the Swap Shop saga.

Opinions in Out on a Limb articles are those of the authors and do not represent The Sandisfield Times.

Subjects should be of interest to most of us and have a strong link to Sandisfield, written by and for Town residents. Address either PO Box 584, Sandisfield, or email.