Goldendale Sentinel Editorial

Mardi Gras shines with more than just glittery beads

A Goldendale Sentinel Editorial  

     This weekend, kids, teenagers, adults and seniors alike flocked to the streets of downtown Goldendale to revel in the pre-Mardi Gras celebrations. Beads flew through the air, children scrambled for prizes, and grown-ups vyed for their own piece of the pie (or rather cake slices filled with contest items.)
     Organizers said more than 100 people showed up to the General Store and more than 300 strings of glittery beads were tossed from the balcony over Main Street or handed out at the door.
A few doors down, at the Golden Art Gallery, one could spot colorful masks through the windows, hanging on the walls in chime with the Mardi Gras spirit.
     How nice to see kids and grown-ups finding an excuse to have fun together.
     Mardi Gras is not a mandatory holiday or even one that every community celebrates. Some dismiss it entirely. Yet our town, it seems, will find any reason it can to throw a party.
     This is great!
     During economic times like these especially, it is absolutely wonderful to watch people band together to have a good time, despite financial heartaches. It is such an important part of community building.
     When hard times hit, many regions become enveloped in dark clouds, their citizenry crawling into gray spaces to wait out the gloom. Yet here in Klickitat County, people continue in high spirits, doing what they can to keep a chin up and seeking new ways to encourage others.
     Beyond building community and morale, events like these generate much-needed dollars. Revenue at the General Store, for example, was up about 30 percent on Saturday, according to owners.
     As the headlines continue to deliver bad news to our nation at large, let's keep it good news within the city limits.