The bells will ring

There have been several examples. In perhaps the most visible project, Robin and Ellen Knoke, owners of the White Salmon Glassworks, have contributed well over $2,000 and many hours of work to once again bring the sound of the city's trademark chiming bells back to life.

Those glockenspiel bells, located in the clock tower of White Salmon City Hall, had been quiet since early 2004 due to glitches with the electronic system that played them.

The bells, made in Holland, have been with us since the nation's bicentennial in 1976, and they have become part of the soul of the White Salmon community. Those bells are the reason we have a Spring Festival every May, as the enthusiasm generated by their arrival in 1976 led to the creation of the "Festival of the Bells" in 1977. That festival evolved into the May Fest, and eventually became the White Salmon Spring Festival,as it is now known.

The bells are also a unique tourist draw. It's amazing to hear that, almost daily, visitors to our area go into City Hall to ask the staff when the bells are going to ring next.

Now, thanks to the Knokes, they will finally start ringing again, as of July 4.

Along with the Knokes' admirable efforts with the bells, there have been several other extremely generous examples of community boosterism that have come to light in the past few days. Among them are the following:

An anonymous local donor provided $10,000 to the White Salmon Fire Department to pay for firefighting equipment for the city.

An anonymous local donor provided $10,000 to Columbia High School to help pay for a security system in the wake of several break-ins at the school over the past couple years.

Ron and Susan Gookin, White Salmon residents, donated $3,600 to the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department to go toward new computers for the police force.

To all of these generous people, we want to express our gratitude. Thanks for helping to make the White Salmon community an even better place to live.

Now let the bells ring!

JB