When I was young, my religious instructors told me about heaven. How, if we were good people, we would all go there. A little later, I was taught that some people were happier than others in heaven because they were more good than others. Okay then.

I think of this when I reflect on living in the heaven that is Shepherdstown, as my friend Doc keeps saying. It is. Yet, we agree that the town could be even more heavenly with the right leadership that adds more good to it.

Before the town election of 2020, I sent out a notice to all the town residents motivated by this fact: As COVID-19 closed down this town and nation, the Town Council meeting had “nothing on the agenda,” it was reported by this paper. Meanwhile, the Shepherdstown Visitors Center was being shut down without a town discussion, while all my experience in business was shouting that it should have remained open to help the town, to distinguish this town from all of the unimaginative ones and to make a difference for the whole community as our businesses shuttered. Actions could have been taken. Maybe we would have had the chance to eat takeout in town on beautiful spring and summer evenings? But we clutched our masks and lamented. I went to a recent Town Council meeting where nine committees, where the work gets done, had “nothing to report” that month.

James Gatz was a founding member of Shepherdstown Shares. He pushed early for Shares to help the whole community, which is part of our mission. He led us to give out small grants to 13 town businesses, when we got our first large grant. His insights into Shares’ Share the Wealth program with businesses and shoppers made that program succeed. (I can always talk to James about other towns and what they have done). Shares finally fulfilled his years-in-waiting initiative to have a free dinner for the whole community. That’s what The People’s Bowl, earlier this month, was and will be in years to come.

James Gatz will be a godsend for Shepherdstown, leading it to become even more of the heaven it is.

Mark Kohut, of Shepherdstown