Mill Creek Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

My father was a practical man. When I was young and full of myself, one of the first cars I bought was a 1960 Triumph TR3 roadster. Very impractical. It had removable side curtains rather than windows that rolled up and down, dual carbs that needed regular adjustment, no top and no spare tire.

But it was a beautiful car. Fast. And cheap.

It rarely rained where we lived, so the lack of a top didn't bother me, and I envisioned myself looking cool when picking up my dates. But my father only saw that it was impractical.

When you're 18, you are so much smarter than your father, right? I was stretching my wings, and I paid for it myself, so he relented, no doubt figuring I needed to learn from my mistakes on my personal road through life.

The following Christmas there was a large, wrapped box beside the tree with my name on the tag. I couldn't imagine what exciting gift I would find in it Christmas morning.

It was a spare tire.

Of course, it was practical, and my father wanted me to be safe. But a tire for Christmas? It was the grownup equivalent of underwear and socks, which were regular stocking stuffers in my family.

That tire gave my father a little peace of mind, and I enjoyed the illusion of what constituted "cool" until I got tired of the constant mechanical issues – and occasional rain – and decided practical was a pretty good way to go after all.

Today, as publisher of the Beacon, I like to think it's a pretty cool weekly newspaper, sharing interesting stories about my community, but also practical, helping my neighbors keep abreast of the issues that affect their lives.

I hope you agree. As the Beacon moves toward conversion from a free newspaper to subscription, we're focused as always on remaining hyperlocal. There are plenty of ways to find out what is going on statewide, nationally or around the world. But there are usually very few ways to learn what's going on where we live. Yes, social media has become a source in the digital world, but it is so often full of rumor, "fake news," lacking in facts, and just plain wrong.

It's fun sharing photos, passing along memes, and trading rumors across the electronic "back fence." But newspapers continue to be the go-to place to learn about people, places and events that you don't get from direct experience. Reading a local newspaper each week or online each day is a good habit to have.

With the Beacon, you can have both. A subscription gives you unlimited access to our website, which we update daily, and a weekly newspaper in your mailbox. Either fill out the form in the newspaper and send it in, sign up online at http://www.miillcreekbeacon.com or call us at 425-347-5634.

Don't delay. This is the last free issue of the Mill Creek Beacon. Beginning Jan. 8, current issues will be available by subscription only.

When you talk to family and friends, being well informed about your community means you can have intelligent, educated conversations that demonstrate your concern for and interest in the people and place that make up your world.

A clear understanding of your world makes you cool, like a sports car. And practical. Like a spare tire in your trunk. It's a gift that keeps on giving.

Make reading your community newspaper part of your routine. Subscribe now and you can buy a gift subscription for a family member or friend for half price. That's cool. And practical.