Friday night, as I sat in the First Baptist Church in Wickford listening to the Lafayette Band’s Festival of Lights concert, I thought of all of the “gifts” given to our community.

How much the members of the Lafayette Band and the members of the Community Chorus and the Scouts and and the churches and those who decorate along the streets and those store owners who decorate their windows and those who bring Santa Claus into town – how much they all give to this community!

I thought of all the music that Centreville Bank has given to this community over the years – through Tuesday and Thursday concerts and Lafayette Band concerts. How much other corporate sponsors give to sports and art and to those in need. Even the lights in the windows are a gift to those outside. It truly does “Take a Village” of those giving time and money and talent to others. At this time of year especially, so much of what we experience happens because of these gifts others give to all of us.

Thank you to all of those who so freely share.

Fran Quinlan