BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council of the Town of Stephens City hereby proclaims its THANKS to the Handley Regional Library Board and staff for its remarkably generous assistance to the New Town Heritage festival in 2021.

The Town, now celebrating its 263rd year, has sponsored a local festival celebrating the unique history of the Northern Shenandoah Valley and its people, places and talents. With public health and safety always at the forefront of Town actions, the 2021 festival was moved primarily to a virtual format with little advance notice and no way to produce the festival in this format.

John Huddy, the Handley Library Systems Director with his team came to the rescue. Their aspiration and dedication to sharing reaches far beyond just the sharing of books and reading. They flung open the physical and electronic doors to the community and stretched their information systems and facilities to reach Stephens City. The library’s physical stage and auditorium were made available, with true combat support from the staff, to host music and presentations which were streamed and posted both through social media and the Town’s website.

Without the accommodations, support and assistance of this most amazing team, the festival would have been cancelled in 2021. The collaboration by the Handley Library system with the Town was nothing short of spectacular.

The Town proclaims its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Handley Regional Library system and directs that this Proclamation of Thanks be posted to the Town and New Town Heritage Festival websites.