The New York Times published a lovely series called the Seven Day Happiness Challenge earlier this month. At a time when many of us were making resolutions for the new year, the series invited readers to assess the quality of their relationships and offered practical suggestions to strengthen them.

One of the hidden strengths of the Wenatchee Valley is that we have a diverse and talented group of visual artists who are using their creativity to enhance our appreciation of this region. They contribute to our economy and also help us see through different eyes the beauty that is all around us.

I feel exceedingly fortunate to have a part-time job at this newspaper that allows me to write about how people and organizations are building and strengthening our communities.

Look around the community with a sense of curiosity and you’ll find endless efforts underway to make a difference in the world.

In a community, so many people step up and find ways to make a difference that few people ever know about or appreciate.

I have no idea how climber and author John Roskelley of Spokane had the emotional fortitude to give a detailed presentation about the ascent of Howse Peak in Canada that claimed the life of his son, Jess, and two other young mountaineering icons, Austrians David Lama and Hansjorg Auer. Losin…

The five-year career of wake surfing prodigy Turner Gebers of Cashmere has been nothing short of meteoric. The 15-year-old high school sophomore recently placed second in the semi-pro division at the World Wake Surfing Championship. With that finish, he’s made the decision to turn profession…

How can we best respond to the rising tide of anger, hatred and violence plaguing our society and diminishing our communities? Responding in kind invariably makes matters worse. Fortunately, we can learn techniques to respond in ways that reduce those negative emotions. One person working to…

Growing up in the Philippines, Lorraine del Prado learned valuable lessons about empathy, compassion and the importance of being generous to her fellow human beings. In that developing country, she was confronted on a daily basis with people who were struggling to make ends meet.

Pybus Public Market and its foundation make immeasurable contributions to the Wenatchee Valley by bringing people together and strengthening the bonds of community.

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington, which has earned a sterling reputatio n for fostering philanthropy and supporting area nonprofits, refuses to stand pat and instead is aiming to make an even bigger community impact.

I love programs that connect kids with the arts. On Thursday and Friday mornings this week, the Wenatchee Valley Symphony in partnership with Confluence Health and the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group will bring the theatrical production of “Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage” to the Numerica Perform…

In a society where individualism and self absorption dominate the headlines, we owe a debt of gratitude to people like Carmen Bossenbrock, who live lives of service and exemplify the importance of working to make the community better.

I am impressed with the slick new online community resource called Waste Wizard that was recently launched by the local nonprofit Sustainable NCW. For those of us who want to find creative ways to send less stuff to the landfill, the Waste Wizard is a dream come true.

Significant efforts are being made in North Central Washington to incorporate the history and culture of Native peoples into our shared narrative rather than blithely accepting the prevailing cultural myth that history started with white settlement.

I wish more people would have the opportunity to experience the musical production “Unsettled,” put on by the group Dangerous Women at Snowy Owl Theater in Leavenworth last weekend.

The Wenatchee Valley community has a special relationship with Haiti that has seen countless medical professionals spend time volunteering to alleviate suffering in that impoverished country.

There was a heartfelt homecoming last week at the Cashmere Rotary Club when former local teacher Richard “Dick” Scheuerman visited to talk about the war in Ukraine and efforts to support children there who are orphans.

On a recent visit to Walla Walla with a friend, I had the opportunity to visit the Whitman Mission National Historic site run by the National Park Service to see how the interpretation of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman is changing to reflect a more accurate view of both the 1847 massacre and th…

When it comes to individuals who epitomize the spirit of Mission Ridge Ski Resort and the sport of skiing, you would be hard pressed to find someone more worthy than Otto Ross, the 96-year-old youngster who just completed his 70th year as a certified ski instructor.

The North Central Washington Economic Development District is doing some groundbreaking work in making economic development more accessible to rural communities as well as to groups of people that typically are left out in the cold in our economy.

Eleven-year-old Wyatt DeLozier couldn’t be happier that the snow is melting and the weather is warming up. For Wyatt, that means it’s time to put on his cleats, grab his glove and be part of Wenatchee Youth Baseball’s Majors league.

Dr. Ed Farrar, the Wenatchee orthopedic surgeon who suffered a devastating spinal injury in 2008 and then reinvented his life to continue practicing medicine, be physically active and contribute to the community, died Tuesday, March 8.

Chelan County PUD commissioners will soon make a critical decision that will have profound ramifications for the long-term economic vitality and quality of life for the entire Wenatchee Valley.