As I finish up my year-long Lifelong Learning discussion group on that great novel, “Middlemarch,” a novel about a village which is “just like” our own town. Because the smallest, almost unseen things people do, as George Eliot explores in her book, matter for the village and therefore everybody.

I have learned recently about some almost unknown things some people have done for our town.

Full disclosure, Marty Amerikaner, town councilman, is a friend. I learned that, for the latest election, he checked into the laws about witnesses to ballot-counting. He learned, amidst some unexamined confusion, that every candidate (or proxy) and many townspeople could watch all of the counting. I watched some of it and I had goosebumps over the democratic process overseen perfectly by Lori Robertson, Town Recorder — as has every election she oversaw during her terms. I learned she and the counters and tabulators could not leave town hall from their arrival at 5:30 a.m. or so! Lori and all put in at least an 18-hour day.

For our democracy, our nation’s (but not our town’s) existential crisis is taking place this year.

We all know of the recent Jefferson County turnout and action over the last minute change to a major county plan. Tony Russo organized an instant petition that night and got almost 500 signatures. Direct democracy in action and it better have the desired result. I learned that Marty was alerted to that last minute change, while he was vacationing in Croatia with dicey internet follow-through. He made sure that the news was communicated as immediately as it could be via the town email list. Thanks also to you, Amy Boyd, town clerk. Turnout was huge.

Here is another little Middlemarch village salute to Ms. Robertson. At one point, as I was leaving the ballot-counting, I stepped into the antechamber to Town Hall to talk with an arriving friend about what I had seen while watching. Although I think I was very low, Ms. Robertson came out and quietly asked me to move away from this space. The next day I apologized to her for my thoughtlessness, because I hate thoughtlessness even when I am.

And Mayor Auxer thanked me for my condolence note the next morning, as I urged him to stay a presence in town. Maybe think of thanking Mayor Auxer, Lori Robertson and Jennie Haynes for their long service to Shepherdstown.

Mark Kohut, of Shepherdstown