I have been contemplating lately in a deeper and more urgent way, the future of this community… and for the purpose of this piece I will limit my focus to the city of Langley. One, because I know something about how Langley works. And two, because in many ways Langley is a microcosm of the county, the state and the nation.
It’s a community where a good number of folks understand what it means to live harmoniously and responsibly on the planet, how living on an island is different from living on the mainland or in a large urban community, and — most importantly — what might be required of us as individuals and of our public officials, to sustain our community.

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Jim Freeman says thanks again for showing up.

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Political pundits have been in a lather the past week over possible vice presidential candidates.
Will Obama ask Hillary?
Will Bill ask Obama to ask Hillary?
Will Hillary ask Oprah to have Obama answer Bill?
Will Oprah ask Bill to look under his chair for a special prize?
All this speculation over possible vice presidential candidates is wearing me out. I keep telling people to relax; there are many miles to go before such decisions need to be made.

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Despite my good intentions to share some significant historical observations from last week’s tour of the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Ind., I must hold the press on this to discuss the recent reminders experienced first hand of sharing a bathroom with three women.

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Dave Sharpe looks at how smoking can impact the health of children.

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Growing up on Whidbey has shaped us “island kids” in inescapable ways.

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Being a member of the media elite, I often get called down from my ivory tower to help out on blue ribbon commissions, scholarly task forces and such.

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Many families in Washington are struggling. Property taxes are rising and the costs for fuel and food are skyrocketing. These added costs, along with some unscrupulous subprime mortgage lenders, have undermined the American dream for too many families in our state and around the nation.

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Live and learn. Some people just don’t know how to keep their eyes on the prize.

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Greetings from our Hoosier home front.

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Remember back when electricity prices suddenly went through the roof?

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It’s been one rotten headline after another this past week.

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With our senior year winding down, most of our classmates have only a rough knowledge of what the coming years will bring with them. For us and most of our friends, new schools beckon, and with them new people, experiences and lifestyles.

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