We’ve said it before: If you are or want to be a public official, mind your manners and your temper. The behavior of some of our local politicians these days is both shameful and discreditable. They ought to know better — and deep down they probably do. So why, at a recent public meeting, did two councilmen get into a squabble so severe they nearly broke into fisticuffs?A more important question may be why does this type of behavior always seem to be happening in the same town? The North East Town Board just can’t seem to catch a break from the bad press — but that’s due solely to the actions of its members, who seem to have a hard time getting along. Yet it goes deeper than mere personality clashes; the discord on the board affects how business is conducted, how the town is perceived and if other residents will ever decide to dedicate their time to municipal causes in the future.Just last week, at a special Town Board meeting, Councilman Dave McGhee leaned forward, pointed his finger and antagonized Councilman Steve Merwin, baiting him into a screaming match. As town Supervisor Dave Sherman said, McGhee’s reaction was like a “flash of gunpowder” exploding. It was totally unacceptable behavior. Presumably it was because he did not care for what Merwin had to say. That’s unfortunate, but honestly, having different ideas is what open government is all about. Merwin had every right to offer his analysis, his opinion and his expertise (and there’s no denying that as a village highway crew worker and diesel mechanic he is an expert to the issue at hand — the purchase of a plow truck and related equipment).Yes, as a former county Department of Public Works employee and town highway superintendent, McGhee has expertise, too. But what use is it if he’s too riled up to express his thoughts?What’s unfortunate is that once egged on by Councilman McGhee, Merwin jumped right in, and the two men went at each other with a vengeance. This is no way for adults to behave. This is no way for the town to conduct business. Bottom line — this pattern of explosive behavior has to stop. Credit to Sherman, he tried to mediate, albeit he did not quite succeed, but it was a tall order in the heat of the moment.Here’s what people have to realize: It’s OK for people to disagree. And it’s OK for people to express their differences. It’s even OK for people to have spirited discussions regarding issues about which they feel strongly. But we all must behave with civility and decorum and show respect to one another, no matter how much our views may deviate.What doesn’t make sense is that in speaking with McGhee and Merwin, they both agree their behavior was juvenile, inappropriate and wrong. They seem to agree it’s important to allow everyone a chance to express their views in an open and respectful manner. As we all know, however, talk is cheap. What this town needs to see is those words put into action.If change does not come the following question will continue to loom large — if those whom we place our faith in to govern our towns and villages cannot manage to control their violent tempers, how can we trust anything they say or do? Our leaders need to shape up and show enough maturity to work collectively if they expect to garner our votes come Election Day. There’s enough conflict in the world as it is. Let’s have our governing boards cooperate while they do what they actively sought to do back when they were vying for office — help run our towns and villages to the best of their abilities with colleagues who are trying to do the same. A little teamwork can go a long way.
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Greg Fricke and James Boehmer, co-owners of Peggy Mercury in Kent, recently launched their first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts.”
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Fricke and Boehmer are not there to stock their shelves with the same products customers find at standard makeup retailers. They’re there to help customers find what works for them. That usually means asking customers about themselves and learning about their beauty habits, skin, style and the way they like to present themselves. Fricke and Boehmer believe it’s their job to help customers bring out the qualities that suit them and determine what works best for their look.
So much of the Peggy Mercury world is about emboldening people to become more creative, and possibly bolder, versions of themselves. Some of this comes through the store’s creative collaborations with artists, designers and stylists.
It’s part of an ethos that encourages them and their friends to use the shop as a kind of laboratory, trying out new creative experiments without knowing how they might turn out. Whether in fashion, painting, fiber arts or photography, the projects almost always turn out marvelously.
A line of sterling silver charms they sell started as a small project by their friend Nolan Percival. In the beginning, the pieces were for close friends and loved ones. But Boehmer and Fricke encouraged Percival to get a little more serious about the project and create a whole line for the store. Today, it’s one of their top-selling collections.
Classic styles, bold colors, and creative concerts make up the “Imaginary Concerts” line at Peggy Mercury.Provided
“Imaginary Concerts” has the duo taking their own advice.
The project started as a way for Boehmer to connect with his mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Taking old concert shirts from his own collection, Boehmer and his mother began cutting out the graphics with the idea that they would make a quilt together. Unfortunately, she died before they could complete the project in 2025. The pieces, which were ready for production, were put on the back burner as Boehmer and Fricke dealt with their loss and the whirlwind of projects that never seemed to cease at Peggy Mercury.
But the harsh winter of 2026 presented an opportunity to take some time and focus on themselves. Part of that meant revisiting and redefining the concert T-shirt project. This time, instead of looking to the warmth and comfort of a quilt, they turned to another passion — fashion.
Taking a page from their own book, they wanted to create something that felt comfortable to them. They took two disparate loves — one rooted in simple preppy style, with clean lines and classic silhouettes, and the other in the nitty gritty worlds of punk rock and pop — and blended them together to create something entirely new. Pulling from the staples of vintage Brooks Brothers and Charvet collections, they applied the graphic elements with bold stitching reminiscent of punk jackets of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but with a much more sophisticated air.
But the remixing isn’t just the pairing of prep and punk. The pieces are not canon. They take liberties with the realities of concert tours, combining one band’s dates with another band’s logos, mixing them all up until the reality is lost and imagination is the only truth.
Shirts from Peggy Mercury’s first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts,” hang on display.Provided
Adding to the mix is an element of perpetual creativity. Art can be messy, both figuratively and literally, and many of Fricke and Boehmer’s artist friends carry evidence of their work on them at all times. As a nod to these tireless creatives, the duo added haphazard splashes of bright color, giving the line an even more distinctive feel.
For them, “Imaginary Concerts” passes the “Peggy Test.” The mythical Peggy Mercury is a fictional figurehead for the company, a character who thrives on creativity and change. The name, much like the clothing line, is a mixture of interests: Mercury is a planet, a deity and an elusive, transformative element, while Peggy is the wonderfully stylish and boundary-pushing Peggy Guggenheim.
Everything Fricke and Boehmer put in their store has to pass this test: Would Peggy Mercury approve? For their first collection, the answer is a resounding yes.
Peggy Mercury is at 9 Maple St., Unit 2, Kent.
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