My son played baseball from T-ball through college, and I became very familiar with the camaraderie that developed among the players sitting in the dugout. Not only did those players cheer on their teammates and engage in (mostly) good-natured heckling of their opponents, they also became problem-solvers, helpers and even arbitrators of unacceptable behavior.

Over time, it was clear that in many cases, the coaches didn’t need to step into fray, because the dugout would take care of it.

After five years of publishing online community news in South Snohomish County, It has become clear to me that I also have a dugout. Of course, I have a “starting line-up” that includes writers, photographers and videographers; graphic and web designers; technical advisers and web hosts; and advertising and marketing support. But about that dugout…

It’s the readers who send me a personal email letting me know about a typo they spotted on the second paragraph, second line of a story I wrote at 2 a.m., Or those who message me directly to clarify my editorial coverage policy or editing decision — and respects my response even if they don’t agree with it.

It’s also the many commenters who ask for clarification on statements that don’t make sense, provide links to documents for further study, and engage in lively and (mostly) respectful discussion about the community we all cherish, even though they don’t always agree about what lies ahead and how to get there.

It’s the advertisers like Chermak Construction or Edmonds-Westgate Veterinary Clinic, who renew their advertising year after year, because they believe we are providing a valuable community service. Or those businesses like Dragon Fire Gallery and Cline Jewelers who aren’t advertising at the moment but still have signed up for a voluntary subscription because they want to support our work.

I am proud to say that our dugout of subscribers continues to grow, too, and I appreciate all of you who have signed up for monthly deductions or one-time contributions. And for those who have sent along checks with personal notes, I want you to know that your thoughtful comments mean the world to me.

I hope that each of you has a relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Remember to keep our veterans and their sacrifices in your thoughts as you enjoy the holiday.

And finally, have you subscribed yet?

Until next time,

Teresa Wippel, Publisher