The Village of Otwell has some really good things going for it these days. A strong school, good churches, hard-working civic organizations, wonderful volunteer fire department, comfortable housing for our seniors, a lovely little library, a delightful mercantile, a full-service gas station top the list of attributes for the "good" column. The village is small in number, so it's a perfect place to do things on a more "micro" basis. Small groups, small projects, small goals are very approachable. Therefore, let's take all the successes that are already in place and work to keep tackling those things to make the village a better and better place to live.
Those of us who are generational in the village and the surrounding area remember a time when there were stores (not store, but stores), a full-sized restaurant, a car dealership/garage, several gas/service stations, etc. Commerce, on a small scale, was alive and well. Slowly, time took its toll...change became not the friend all the time in the village's well-being. The stores, garages, gas stations, barbershop all disappeared. The village took on the look of just another economically depressed little town. Those of us who remembered the "good 'ol days" mourned the loss. There have been many conversations over the years lamenting how a town can slowly fall into disrepair.
The good news is that, as stated before, there are some strong and good things that are keeping the village at a low hum. The better news is that there are some simple things that we can do as a small town to improve ourselves even more. Many are free and only involve a little time and effort for some fantastic high-return results.
This site has been created as a village meeting place for those who would like to bring back the spirit and joy that makes small towns the jewels they are. The current tidewave of the economy is getting people thinking in more conservative, lower-key terms...a good thing indeed. This is when the villages shine...wonderful ideas can come in small packages!
Stay tuned for further updates as the site grows. We're currently building in the background to establish an email connection for your ideas, getting some pictures taken of the village itself, and putting together some links that you will perhaps find helpful.
Time to make the village a healthy place once again--in mind, in body, and in spirit.
