Interest in the scope of the Community Council’s deliberations got a boost this week as new board members have pitched in to fill vacancies. The matter of scope would seem to be of particular interest at this time of war, recession, and too much carbon dioxide because it turns on our judgment of what constitutes “local interest”. Take war, while few of us have lost a loved one are the rest of us okay with the senseless mayhem? How about the recession, do we watch idly as Detroit’s skilled labor gets shoved into the gutter? And climate, should not our commuters be among the first to back a long range plan to bring work nearer to homes, to make Vashon a resilient haven? Leading questions to be sure, but if Council keeps to a narrow interpretation of “local interest” then Vashon will not be prepared for the inevitable ramifications of national change. An important aspect of preparation for such profound stress is emotional health. Heads up, Vashon, times are about to change.

(Sent to the Beachcomber in hope).