Our small town held a celebration/ribbon cutting for our newly reconstructed Second Street. The project provides widened sidewalks, new landscaping, and people friendly paths and gathering places.

The mayor spoke. Our city planner spoke. The officials and community leaders who birthed and shepherded the project were honored. The designers and construction crew received awards. The merchants who endured the five-month construction and frequent closing of the street were applauded. Local restaurants provided free food to the neighbors who chatted and celebrated.

Our town of a few square blocks is crammed with a city hall, library, grocery store, liquor stores, post office, three churches, restaurants, book shops, artist studios, medical offices, non profits, a public school, plus residences (single home and multiple), along with other stores and services. It reminds citizens and the tourists who flock here of small town America a century or so ago.

In fact, we are not an early twentieth century village. Current trends wash our shores, too. A business near our town was recently awarded one of the pot shops now allowed by Washington State’s new marijuana laws. We also are considering whether to replace one of our most historic buildings with a modern structure or let it stand, perhaps calling for expensive restoration.

I may agree or not with some of those trends, but that is not the issue here. The issue is how to live successfully in this age, not one of a century ago. If we live in harmony with our neighbors, some of whom we agree with and some of whom we don’t, then we will not only muddle through but enjoy the experience.

It takes a community.