The laws of nature are fascinating and true. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. An object at rest will stay at rest until acted upon by another force.

Sounds complicated, in a way. But think about it. Those laws are true in human nature, as well.

If we behave in a certain way, whether consciously or not, other people will react in some way we can predict-or not. And we tend to do things the way we've always done them until someone else points out another way and convinces us to change.

GoMarlinton (full disclosure: I am a member and sometimes actually attend the meetings) is a group of business people, energetic residents and volunteers who use their spare time to brainstorm about Marlinton's many positive attributes, do projects that no one else wants to do or has time to do, to write grants and use the money to make more improvements.

Here's a short list of their many projects in a little over year of existence.

•Like those new town flags that depict the area's many activities? Thank GoMarlinton people who got a grant, enlisted a designer at no charge and hired a local business to print them.

•How about the new town brochures that point out shopping, historical locations, lodging and entertainment? GoMarlinton.

•Several Marlinton businesses got a "thanks for being here" boost this summer in the way of paint purchased by the Marlinton Rotary Club. Labor? GoMarlinton.

•The depot lot was thoroughly cleaned, mulched and planted with new flowers courtesy of just two people. GoMarlinton members.

•People who want to visit Marlinton are aided in that pursuit by a fantastic web site, gomarlinton.com, where they can find a business directory and an events calendar.

•The Greenbrier River's bank along the west side was cleaned up this fall by a team of GoMarlinton folks who donated their time, equipment and energy to cutting brush and picking up trash. There's more to do and they stand ready to do it in better weather.

Somehow, GoMarlinton's members must have gotten the idea that people in town supported them.

Then they went to last week's town council meeting to report on their next project-a shelter for Marlinton's popular farmers' market that would include electricity, telephone and a water source. What a great idea.

Users of the spring-through-fall market would be delighted to have shelter from the rain or the hot sun. Certainly, vendors would like to have the convenience of water and communications in case of an emergency. And now that the farmers' market can accept EBT payments, a telephone connection is essential. Frontier Communications provided one last summer.

Perhaps the laws of nature should have been explained to them and to Marlinton Town Council. These people who have labored much and expected little asked to do things a different way. Council members were reluctant to have a shelter built on town property, even though it can be a town facility six days a week. The town is required only to provide some maintenance. If Marlinton can't legally provide utilities at no cost, then build the shelter without those amenities until the details can be worked out.

Indeed, with Marlinton businesses closing one after the other, it seems like the council would welcome a group, nearly any group, of people who are so talented, so capable and so willing to work. But not so with GoMarlinton, it seems. While there are some roadblocks to the idea, council members sounded more willing to point them out than to help get around them or over them.

Don't get me wrong. I believe a seat in municipal government might be the hardest elected job one can have and Marlinton's council has had its share of hard knocks. But they need to pay attention to the laws of nature. Their actions have an equal and opposite reaction.

Nothing is more discouraging than to have worked hard, accomplished plenty, proven the value of the work and then have the very entity you're working to help be disinclined to show any support, including moral support.

As Marlinton's businesses close for a variety of reasons, it's almost like attending the town's wake. GoMarlinton is working against that notion. Marlinton Town Council should support their efforts in every possible way.