His name is always present and always before us and every third Monday in January we are prompted to take time to reflect on the positive impact his words, his work, and the overall civil rights movement has had on our daily lives today. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have celebrated his ninety-first birthday on the 15th.

As MLK, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Although everything he had to say was done so eloquently, you can reflect on these simple words and apply them to yourself and how you participate in your community. Do you communicate and care for your neighbors? Perhaps drop off soup when someone is ill or dinner for that family who arrived home with a new baby. Do you patronize friends’ businesses and shop local? Do you make the effort to stop in for a hot coffee, some cheese for a party, fish and meat for dinner, yoga classes for your desired healthy body, creative art, fascinating books, beautiful photography, fun T-shirts, fuel for your tank, veggies for an afternoon snack? Do you volunteer for the PTO, a town board, the fire department? I took some time on the Monday holiday to ask myself these questions and now I ask you.

Son-in-law to Connie and Bob Taylor, husband to their daughter Morgan, uncle, brother-in-law, and friend to many in the Taylor-Athearn family and those affiliated with them: Bobby Lucero was titled with many roles and, although no longer walking the Earth among us, will live on in hearts and memories after fighting a fierce battle against an aggressive form of cancer. I would like to extend my condolences to all.

Meghan Parker, second child to David and Becky (Harrison) and a student at Maine’s Colby College, has embarked on a semester-long journey to study abroad in Madagascar. If this isn’t a remarkable opportunity, then I don’t know what is. Send a postcard, Meghan.

I have an update regarding a graveside service for Bob Conway. Monday March 30th at 2 p.m., folks are invited to gather at Abel’s Hill to pay tribute and say farewell to the man who was, as they say, a character, a longtime resident along the shores of Stonewall. According to his daughter, Robin Morley, a reception to follow is in the works.

Her running legs took her to Bermuda for a long weekend with her husband Dan, and a bevy of friends. Meg Athearn pinned on a number, laced up her shoes and, with friends from the Amity Island Running Club and about 1,000 other participants, took to the streets of Hamilton participating in the 1 mile, 10K and half marathon. Meg’s 7:15 minute per mile pace in the half marathon landed her in a very respectable 110th place.

Bill and Susan Shanok of Middle Road and New York are grandparents again. There’s a new baby girl in the mix born to Sarah and Johnny. Miss Hazel James Kitchens was born January 16 and has already been visited by her aunt and our summer friend, Tory (Shanok) Dolan, of Hingham. Babies sure do make life seem so happy and joy-filled.

This past week the high schoolers have been making their way through mid-term exams. It’s hard to believe the school year is half over. I’ll leave you with that thought to ponder.