With the exception of some curbside recycling programs in North Central Washington communities, figuring out what you can recycle and the appropriate way to dispose of waste items can be a very difficult and time-consuming process for business owners and residents.

I never get tired of writing about the people in our midst who have the vision, strength of will and determination to make important contributions to the well-being of our communities.

Recreation in this state appears to be on the verge of a major transformation thanks to a unique partnership between a Methow Valley technology company, a Wenatchee-based trails nonprofit and the financial support of the Washington Tourism Alliance.

While it seems impossible to make sense out of the turmoil in our society, a former CIA analyst offers us an intriguing way to understand what is happening and the forces that are driving these troubles.

Thanks to a creative collaboration by Wenatchee Valley College professors, the 9/11 Spirit of America Memorial Committee has an updated website and professionally developed marketing strategy to better promote their work and engage the community. Best of all, students led the process and now…

One casualty of the pandemic is how easy it has been to miss important civic milestones like the deaths of people who have made important contributions to our valley.

One of the challenging conundrums we absolutely must find a solution for in North Central Washington is improving access to affordable childcare and early learning opportunities in our communities.

I had the opportunity to moderate a discussion with several civic leaders about how the pandemic has impacted our valley, how organizations have adapted and opportunities that they see emerging for our valley.

Forty years ago as a young reporter at The World, I was assigned the task of covering a rather unique graduation at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

For the past nine months, I’ve been part of a group meeting to explore race and inclusion in our society. It has been a challenging journey of self reflection.

An important mindset we can choose to adopt is to try to meet people where they are rather than where we are and do so with a sense of curiosity and a commitment to treating people with respect and dignity.

I have a soft spot in my heart for stories of redemption, particularly those in which individuals have found a way to overcome challenges and transformed their pain and suffering into a commitment to help others.

It is quite a thrill when someone from our area achieves something significant and does so with a sense of grace, humility and humanity.

The three Wenatchee middle schools choirs have released a combined virtual performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” thanks to the technical prowess and perseverance of Orchard Middle School teacher Jeff Sandberg.

I’ve been part of a small group studying racism and its impact in our society for the past eight months. It has been a journey of discovery and self reflection as we have endeavored to better understand the experience of people of color in our culture.

For the inaugural Earth Day in 1970, Wenatchee High School teachers Bill Asplund and Dave DeJong decided that the occasion would be a great opportunity for a hands-on learning project.

The value of hard work, integrity and plain speaking was drilled into Helen Rayfield from her earliest days growing up in Cleveland and carried on when her family moved to the Leavenworth area.

Listening to Dr. Francis Collins speak about his life, from growing up in an army camp in rural Ireland, to ultimately practicing medicine in the Wenatchee Valley, you get the sense that he has made the most out of every opportunity he encountered and lived with a sense of purpose and gratitude.

Earth Day is coming up on Thursday, April 22 and Wenatchee Valley College has developed some powerful programs to encourage and inspire students and the rest of us to do what we can to live in ways that have a lighter impact on our shared environment.

At 90 years young, Dr. Jerry Gibbons hasn’t slowed down much. He still rides his bicycle, although he now sports an e-bike to help him keep up with his friends on road rides around the valley.

The Icicle Fund has quietly made a profound impact on conservation, the arts as well as the cultural and natural history of North Central Washington over the last two decades by investing more than $45 million to support more than 100 nonprofits.

Douglas County PUD is making a mistake with its proposed new rates for data centers that, if implemented, would likely make the development of those projects unaffordable for most tech companies.

For several months, a group of us have been studying and talking about race and racism in our communities and our country. We are finding opportunities to probe our own thoughts and feelings about an issue that is at once important to understand and at the same that can be polarizing.

We know that many students have struggled during coronavirus pandemic from loneliness, depression, anxiety and the like. In a recent column, I highlighted surveys taken by Wenatchee High School senior Kamryn Fowler and Kayla Helleson of Chelan Valley Thrive and the numbers they shared were d…

Student mental health is suffering during the pandemic; and as community members, we have an opportunity and a moral obligation to step up and make a difference by becoming mentors or supporting nonprofits that are trying to bridge the gap.

Richard “Bush” Buscher of the U.S. Forest Service had an enormous impact on the development of multiple wilderness areas, including the renowned Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the William O. Douglas Wilderness, and left a legacy of leadership and constructive engagement.

I’ve been part of a group of nine individuals exploring issues around race and racism in our society. To help us lean into the subject, we are using the “Racial Healing Handbook” by Anneliese Singh.