While the street work in Winslow continues to be quite the ordeal, it might also provide a rare opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons.

In the 1980s, I went through a similar experience while living in the small Northern California town of Larkspur. As with here, the downtown was torn up for an entire summer, with all the accompanying noise, dust, detours and inconvenience.

When what seemed like an endless project finally did come to an end, Larkspur threw itself a huge street party to celebrate.

The street was closed off to traffic for most of the night and the townspeople showed up in droves. Vendors sold beer and wine and all kinds of food, while every store along the main street had an open house. Bands played and people danced in the street. The party was a huge success, and went a long to way to putting what had been a giant collective headache behind us.

I propose that the City of Bainbridge Island consider doing something similar. God knows we deserve it.

Dave Richards

Bainbridge Island