No Bad Days

We haven’t forgotten the seniors. The Liberty Bell High School class of 2020 has, instead of coming together to finish their final semester as Mountain Lions, been dispersed to their homes for weeks now in what would have been the home stretch of their final year. They are finishing their high school days online, absent […]

I usually have a lot of reasons to say “thank you” every week — to my staff, advertisers, contributors, supporters, vendors, and the community at large — all of whom have a vital role in making what we do possible. Last week was an especially good time to feel and express gratitude. Two readers sent encouraging notes that included […]

It’s late Monday night and I’m really tired, and we’ve been working hard to put this week’s paper together, so I pretty much have only one thought, and it’s for all you smug people out there who keep insisting that a lot more of us are just going to have to die (and are doing […]

With next week’s paper, the Methow Valley News marks another anniversary and moves into volume 117, Issue No. 1. I wish we had a way to celebrate, but even a shared birthday cake is not likely, or easily consumed through a face mask anyway. Nearly all of the newspaper staff is working at home, under […]

If you can find a copy of our Methow Valley Winter magazine for 2019-20, you will encounter just one of the many things that Mary Kiesau will be remembered for. Mary took the powerful photo on the magazine’s cover. Her pictures enhanced the pages of our magazines and newspaper many times over the years. Mary […]

April is the cruelest month, T.S. Eliot lamented. He had no idea. We’re only halfway through the first month of the second quarter, transitioning from Aries to Taurus, and good luck with your astrological forecasts making any sense COVID-wise. Mine on Sunday (Scorpio, but on the cusp with Libra) was fairly prescient: “Today is a […]

In the past few weeks, three Methow Valley women have announced their candidacies for relatively high-profile elective offices — one returning for another campaign, two new to the fray. Ann Diamond, who gained impressive recognition as an Independent candidate for House of Representatives Position 1 in the far-flung 12th legislative district two years ago, could be considered […]

Are you essential? I am, according to the governor’s office. News media workers are exempt from Gov. Jay Inslee’s executive order last week directing most state residents to stay at home and away from work. In fact, dozens of job categories including health care, hazardous materials and chemicals, financial services, military support industries, emergency services, […]

The thing about hoarders at a time like this is that they turn everyone else into hoarders, too. Because if you know that a two-fisted mob of ruthless shopping thugs are strategizing to strip-mine the shelves of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, antibacterial wipes and ramen noodles — well, you want to make sure you’ve got enough […]