Thoughts At The Start Of 2023

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes

Wellington prides itself on having a welcoming, inclusive and connected community, where residents can thrive and businesses flourish. This is not something that happens overnight or without effort. We collaborate intentionally with civic organizations, educational institutions and businesses, to provide a strong civic foundation.

Our welcoming and connected community takes planning, strong civic and business leadership, and a commitment to do what is right for Wellington now and in the future. The most successful communities leverage the strengths, skills and resources of each partner, making the whole stronger than the sum of its parts. Embracing collaboration as a fundamental principle has been key to what makes us a “Great Hometown.”

The start of a new year always carries with it the feeling of a clean slate, a story yet to be told. The new year also usually carries a theme of health and wellness. That’s not by accident, as a new year often signifies a chance to start fresh and improve our mind, body and spirit. There’s no better time to showcase all our community has to offer in this arena than during these days when we are all crafting New Year’s resolutions. Indeed, it seems like the perfect time to focus on a contributor to wellness in which we all have a role — community. Grab a dictionary, or maybe these days “Google” it, and read that community can be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, often as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals. In Wellington, we do this in a big way. Even as our population has grown, we have managed to retain that feeling of connectivity. It is entirely a credit to the people who live here.

We talk to our neighbors. We crowd to local events. We register our kids for youth sports and recreation programs. We have a club or organization to join for all interests. We are home to countless support and faith groups. 2023 brings a new opportunity to get out and make the most of your community. In the words of the beloved Mister Rogers, “If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Happy New Year, Wellington! Hope to see you soon “in the neighborhood.”

Jim Barnes, Wellington Village Manager