By Jennifer Elden, Diane Johnston and Kathryn Eisenhauer As we settle in to the New Year, we have had time to sit back and reflect on the incredible generosity of this community. This year, Neighbors Helping Neighbors delivered holiday food baskets to 130 families feeding at least 500 people in our valley. The Manger Mall provided […]
My Turn
Make your voice heard in comp plan process
By Isabelle Spohn Do your family roots in the Methow extend back for decades or more? Are you a former or seasoned wildland firefighter here in the valley — or a resident questioning the stability of that steep drainage behind your home? A gardener or farmer who cannot grow food without water? Perhaps a lower […]
Flying less frazzled
By Tani Erickson Secrets your flight attendants want you to know before takeoff Seasoned Methow Valley travelers may know many of these tips already, but for those who fly occasionally, here is some insider advice to make your next flight go better. • Just like summer camp. Put your name and contact information on everything: your […]
Physicians’ fees not the villain in health care
By Don Stevens Complex problems rarely can be attributed to single factors, particularly health care. After reading Marcy Stamper’s article on the shrinking insurance options in Okanogan County (Sept. 19), I found it astounding that Jeff Lindstrom, a principal broker with Health Insurance Team of Seattle, made the following statement: “It’s cost. Doctors are not willing […]
Sacrifices needed now to save our future
By David Harris If you had any powers of observation at all over the last 20 years or so, there are a few things that should be coming increasingly clear. Global warming is here and getting worse — epic fires, droughts, melting arctic and glacial ice, sea life dying due to warming oceans. Exponential population growth is quickly […]
Touted benefits of I-1631 are an illusion
By Alexander “Sandy” Mackie A few weeks ago, the News published an impassioned plea from Raechel Youngberg in support of Initiative 1631 as a step towards solving the world’s climate change issues and by implication reducing the incident of smoke and fire in the Methow Valley. Before your readers jump to support her request, however, they […]
MV Community School left a wonderful legacy
By Deirdre Cassidy I read with sadness that the Methow Valley Community School was closing its door after 18 years of offering families an alternative in education in the valley. I worked at the community school for 13 of those years — I believe I was the longest-lasting teacher at the school. Those were some of the most-challenging […]
Time for action on climate change is now — and I-1631 is a step
By Raechel Youngberg Looking out my window I should be able to see the Twisp River valley unfolding below, the Channing Family Farm plots ripe with vegetables, and the Sunny Pine Farm goats happily munching away. Instead, I see a thick oppressive yellow smoke obscuring everything but the closest trees. Frequent headaches and a nagging cough […]
Let’s find ways to make affordable housing easier in the Methow
By Scot Domergue As noted in the recent Methow Valley News article “Room for Disagreement,” the Twisp Planning Commission is considering requiring a minimum home size of 1,200 square feet in areas zoned R-1, 800 square feet in R-2, and 320 square feet for R- 3, the least-restrictive of our residential zones. The article also reviews […]
Don’t believe the myth of ‘fake news’
By Fred Obee The plight of a grieving orca who continues to carry her dead calf for weeks is reported by the Seattle Times. Spokane’s Spokesman-Review lets people know for the first time that the Legislature is forming a task force to exempt lawmakers from portions of the Public Records Act. The Columbia Basin Herald […]
