I am frequently inspired by the efforts within faith organizations in North Central Washington to foster a stronger sense of community. We are fortunate that so many people here are devoted to building community.
Rufus Woods
Publisher Emeritus
Fifteen years ago this month, I flew out to Seattle from Chicago to interview with a church that proceeded to hire me as their lead pastor. Although I’d been raised in Washington state, it had been a quarter of a century since I’d lived here. That unusually warm and sunny February weekend re…
We watched Super Bowl LIV with some friends who have a high school freshman and a sixth grader. My kids are in eighth and fifth grades. We all tuned in and out of the game, in and out of the commercials, in and out of the halftime show. At one point, a game of Clue was taking place to my lef…
I brought my 10-year-old son to the pediatrician recently for a strep test (negative, thankfully) and as we were finishing up, his wonderful doctor asked him, “So, what sort of job do you want to have when you grow up?”
A group of prominent Catholics announced Tuesday that it’s pursuing a “lay-led,” independent review of the Seattle Archdiocese’s secret clergy files to fully expose the breadth and depth of the church’s sexual abuses in Western Washington and find a path forward for healing the damage caused…
VATICAN CITY — Nelson Perez, the Latino Roman Catholic bishop of Cleveland who has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, was named on Thursday by Pope Francis to replace an outspoken conservative who recently retired as archbishop of Philadelphia.
VATICAN CITY — Former Pope Benedict wants his name removed as co-author of a new book on the issue of priestly celibacy, his personal secretary said on Tuesday, in the latest twist to a saga that has kept the Roman Catholic world riveted.
What kind of mother would take her two 16-year-old sons to see "Little Women?"
Q: My children's father died last week. He was 55 and no one expected it — most unexpectedly, me, and I am surprised how hard I am taking it. We had both moved on to happy relationships and remained congenial for the kids, but his passing has thrown me. I'm not sure how I should I be feeling…
My local supermarket, which never has enough open checkout lines, has gone Big Time into self-checkout stations and people seem to love them. I choose to stand in the regular checkout line.
CHICAGO — On her white board are several dates written in red marker.
Dear Mr. Dad: My 13-year old son has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He’s such a great kid — smart, athletic, good looking — but has a lot of trouble making friends. I’ve seen other kids exclude him and I know he feels rejected, which makes him not even want to try to connect with others. I feel s…
David Solie’s 89-year-old mother, Carol, was unyielding. “No, I will not move,” she told her son every time he suggested that she leave her home and relocate to a senior living residence.
I recently met Kelly Andrews and Ethan Lynette while spending a day off with my wife poking around in Bellingham. Driving through the Fairhaven district, I happened upon an old brick office building that caught my attention. The sign above the front door read Bailey Brothers Building and Loan.
The following churches provided Christmas service information:
Cala Flamond
Editorial assistant
As busy as the holiday season can be, I always look forward to the quiet and hush of winter in nature. It’s a great time to get outside with your family and focus on something you might miss the rest of the year.
How did you get your name? Most of us know the answer. Most are proud of their given name and of the story behind it.
VANCOUVER — Melting glaciers. Rising seas. Devastating storms. Wildfires.
A sore throat is a common symptom of an upper respiratory infection such as a cold or flu. It’s also a symptom of a bacterial infection commonly referred to as strep throat.
After a recent talk in South Florida, women came up to me in droves asking, “How much should I help my children with their schoolwork?”
Dear Mr. Dad: We're a pretty busy family. Our three kids are in lots of extracurricular activities (Scouts, music, sports, drama) and we also do a lot of things together as a family. Lately, the kids have seemed more run down than usual. I'm feeling a little guilty because I suspect that it'…
We have a Thanksgiving Day tradition in our home. We place three kernels of unpopped popcorn to the side of each person’s plate at the family table. The kernels symbolize the corn the native Americans provided the pilgrims at that first Thanksgiving potluck.
Ex-etiquette: Divorced woman fears adult daughter's reaction to new boyfriend at Thanksgiving dinner
Q: I have been divorced three times. There were extenuating circumstances with each one, from infidelity to simply not caring for my child, but the truth remains, I have been divorced three times. My oldest daughter, who is now well into her 30s, saw it all and makes it very difficult for me…
Dear Mr. Dad: I have a 14-year-old son and I think it’s high time to start preparing him for the future. We want to ensure that he’s on the right career path, whether than means going to college, trade school, or something else after he graduates high school. Granted, he’s only a freshman, b…
