It is an amazing thing that has happened in our little city. People, young and old and in between, have formed an emotional attachment to a special thing and a special place. You can hear it in the voices and see it in the eyes of those who first learn that the library on the Cedar River may be abandoned. They often look stunned. It is pretty unusual that this affiliation with a public utility, for a better word, can become so personal. But it has happened and the people who want to make the changes and who are the city caretakers at the moment should be proud that we have such a unique situation in our town.

Things like this used to happen before constant changes became the way we live. Maybe it is time to realize that whether we have the most super up-to-date facility or whether it might even cost us more, that it may be worth every penny just so that people can have some constancy in their lives and hold onto something that gives emotional satisfaction. That’s what the “home” in hometown should mean. Isn’t there some value in that? And isn’t that why people want to get more involved in their community … if they have that emotional attachment?

Ruth Shilling

Renton