While the vast majority of residents in our communities are good and caring people, there are, unfortunately, those who care about nothing and care about no one but themselves. The differences between these two types of people were highlighted by several recent events.
In Arlington, it was announced that the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics will be going to residents who live within Snohomish County Hospital District 3 in the spring to ask for the approval of a $42.5 million bond which would fund the first major expansion of the facility in 20 years.
The hospital expansion is sorely needed inpatient care increased 26 percent between 1996-2005; emergency care increased 125 percent between 1996-2005 and outpatient care increased 172 percent in the same period. These increases will only continue as our community grows. It is, therefore, essential that the hospital bond be approved so that CVHC can continue to meet the needs of our community well into the future. It will take the time and efforts of a caring and committed group of people to take the message to the voters and to get the bond passed. Fortunately, our community is filled with those kind of people those who care enough to get involved.
Realizing the importance of the hospital bond and the unlikelihood of two simultaneous bonds passing, another group of caring residents decided to put their bond proposal on hold.
In November 2006, the Sno-Isle Library System presented an $8.1 million bond proposal to voters to build a new and larger library in Arlington. That effort failed to reach the 60 percent supermajority needed for approval, garnering 58.8 percent approval and falling about 30 votes short of passing. Because of the need for a new facility and the near-passage of the bond, supporters had planned to take the measure back to the voters. But that changed when Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics announced its bond proposal. Rather than seeing both bond proposals fail, supporters of the library bond decided to hold their proposal to give both measures the best opportunity for approval.
Supporters of both the hospital and library bonds are caring people, giving of themselves to make the community a better place for all. They are working in the best interest of our hometown and represent what is good about our community.
A few miles south in Marysville, recent events have shone a spotlight on those who care about nothing. This past weekend, vandals spent their time destroying the good that others had done.
The new Ebey Waterfront Park bore the brunt of their destructive ways with thousands of dollars in damages being done, including destroying more than 200 feet of split-rail fencing that guarded a sensitive wetland area and damage to an irrigation system and a half-dozen new trees. In addition, vandals hit local businesses, overturned planters and destroyed a payphone. While others spend their time and effort to make our community a better place, these vandals spend their time destroying those efforts.
This weekends damage is just the most recent example of the damage caused by those who dont care about the community or those who call it home. Their destructive ways have cost the city, local business and residents thousands of dollars to repair the damage they have caused.
Fortunately, these vandals represent only small fragment of our community. There are many more who do care and who are willing to do what it takes to make this a better place. People like the city staffers, police officers, business owners and residents who have come together to find a way to battle the vandalism. They are working to find ways to build up our community, not tear it down. Their efforts should be applauded and supported.
Someone with a sense of community has information about who these vandals are and should call the Marysville Police Department at 360-363-8300 or 9-1-1.

To contact a member of The Marysville Globe/Arlington Times editorial board Kris Passey, Scott Frank or Margi Hartnett e-mail forum@premier1.net.