Advertiser Editorial -- A wonderful outpouring of support

The Annapolis Valley is not only a great place to live, but also a place where down-home friendliness and hospitality is the rule rather than the exception.

Nowhere, it seems, is that more evident than when a friend needs a pick-me-up or a helping hand.

Hardly a week goes by here in the Valley without hearing about a benefit of some kind for an individual or family who has suffered some kind of tragedy or hardship.

Last Friday evening in Kentville, a benefit concert was held for Valley musicians and recording artists Mary and Rachel MacLean.

The MacLeans lost their instruments, sound equipment and many irreplaceable family items - and Rachel, her husband, radio personality Len Hawley, and their daughter escaped with their lives - when their van caught fire coming home from a concert.

Their insurance would not cover the loss, leaving them to replace the lost items themselves, and at full cost.

On fairly short notice, fellow musicians Ardyth Robinson and Jennifer Wyatt organized the benefit concert, which was held at St. James Anglican Church.

They put out the word, and by last Friday, a ‘who’s-who’ of musicians from the Valley and beyond answered the call and joined forces to put on an impressive show to say the least.

The performers, all of whom donated their time, included, besides Ardyth and Jennifer, Pam Mason, Ruth Westland, the Fiddlestickers, Kimberley Smith, Maggie Keppie, Elizabeth Harwood, Bob Connon, the Hupman Brothers, Jon Hemingway, Donna and Andy, Mike Aube and Rustbucket, Michael Hirschbach and the Croaking Toads.

The good folk of St. James hosted the event and a reception afterward, and their Rector, Archdeacon Lynn Uzans, a gifted storyteller, started the evening off in fine style.

It was hard to say which was more impressive – the gathering of so much obvious musical talent in one place, or the outpouring of support which had raised more than $1,700 (and counting) in a free will offering by the end of the evening.

We hear a lot about hospitality and helping out friends in need, but it’s one thing to talk the talk and another thing altogether to walk the walk.

Everyone involved in this effort deserves a huge amount of credit, both because it came together so well so quickly and because the time and organization was all donated.

As the program for the evening stated, if a dollar value was placed on the work of those who give freely of their time and good will, it’s unlikely there would be an economy that could match the good works that are generated.

We couldn’t agree more. This kind of effort doesn’t happen by accident, and looks really good on us as a region.

Hopefully, through the generosity of their friends and fans, the MacLeans will soon be back in business, utilizing the talents that we have grown to appreciate and love, like so many other Valley musicians.

To paraphrase the words of another musician and songwriter, Carole King, it’s good to know you’ve got a friend. Or in this case, a whole community full of them.