Most Recent Stories
Rufus Woods: A compelling vision emerges for Wenatchee PAC
When Executive Director Rita Brown talks about her vision for the future of the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center, her enthusiasm and passion are infectious — akin to drinking a latte with six shots of espresso. Last week, I sat down with Brown and Sarah Wilkins, the PAC’s marketing and outreach director, to learn where the PAC is headed following a year of financial challenges. The two were still flying high after the rip-roaring success of a sold-out performance on Jan. 25 of Arrival, a band that played the music of the iconic pop group ABBA. The place was really rocking.
Neither side has realistic solutions
After suffering through President Obama’s State of the Union and a healthy portion of the Republican debates, it’s painfully clear to me that neither party has a realistic approach for dealing with the economic issues facing our country in a world that is being radically transformed by technology and globalization. Both parties are held captive by special interests and following the extreme positions of either one will lead us farther astray rather than toward a brighter future. Polarization has paralyzed both parties.
Common Ground: Neighbors prove they still care
We held a small gathering at our office last week to celebrate the conclusion of our 11th year of the Neighbors Care Fund, in which readers of this newspaper contributed funds to support four local causes. This year, the fund raised money to support The Literacy Council of Chelan and Douglas counties, the YMCA’s After School Program, the YWCA’s Cafe AZ’s, and to AmeriCorps to provide tutors in three local elementary schools.
Steve Robinson to step down as World’s general manager
Thirteen years ago, I recruited Steve Robinson to be general manager of this newspaper with the belief that his expertise and leadership could help us transform the company and be a valuable asset in the community. He has certainly accomplished those goals and so much more. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in The World’s success and he has also earned great respect in the community for his integrity and public service. Our industry has been in the midst of significant change in the last few years, and he has been the steady hand at the helm when the seas have been rough. Having someone you can trust completely is invaluable in times of rapid change and uncertainty.
Suicide rate increases, Grief Center steps up
The suicide rate in Chelan County for the past two years is more than double the national average, and the folks at the Grief Center are raising the alarm about the problem and also providing some critical support for families who are dealing with the loss of loved ones. This Thursday, they’re beginning a six-week series of group session to help people who have lost a loved one to suicide. The sessions will be held at the organization’s newly remodeled space at 1610 Fifth St. in Wenatchee.
Voorhis helps students express creativity
Leavenworth videographer Charley Voorhis finds inspiration in mixing images and music in a way that takes viewers on a “journey of emotions.” He looks for clients who “are as passionate about their area of expertise as I am about mine,” Voorhis told me as we sipped tea at Tastebuds in Wenatchee this week. That approach translates perfectly to his job at the Wenatchee Tech Center, where he’s helping high school students discover their own passions through film.
Common Ground: Haglund brings new energy to downtown Wenatchee
The Wenatchee Downtown Association is taking some impressive steps forward under new Executive Director Linda Haglund. The downtown business and property owners are seeing a much more driven and aggressive organization thanks to the efforts of Haglund and her assistant, Elisabeth Holt. They are going out of their way to engage individuals to understand the opportunities and challenges faced by the members.
We need to find creative solutions
The pace of change in our society sure seems to be accelerating. Here at The World, we are acutely aware of how dramatically the information age is shifting the needs of consumers and businesses we serve and we’ve been scrambling to adjust to all the changes But we are hardly alone. Every time you turn around, another legacy organization is facing similar challenges, from the U.S. Postal Service to bookstores, movie theaters and medical facilities, to name just a few.
Common Ground: Time to build an ownership mentality
It’s been fascinating to see how the community has responded to the Wenatchee School District’s effort to begin transforming its approach to education. The project, Wenatchee Learns, has engaged a broad cross-section of community members in identifying shared expectations by getting input from students, teachers, parents and community members. Getting the community involved is key, because if we’re going to build a better approach to help kids succeed in the 21st century, we’ll need to have a common understanding of what success looks like. More than 2,000 people have shared their views thus far.
Rufus Woods: Naturalist program builds community
If we are serious about building stronger communities, a great place to start is by encouraging people to think of themselves as owners of the community who are invested in its long-term success. Imagine what could be accomplished if we were to foster an ownership mentality that inspires people to find ways to make contributions to their community by taking responsibility and finding ways to help that go beyond just writing checks to charity. That’s a far healthier approach of the consumer mentality that seems to be prevalent, in which individuals feel a sense of entitlement and little or no responsibility.