Letter to the editor: Noticing What Is Good

To the Editor,

In a world where we are constantly reminded of what is wrong, I think it's time to take a moment to recognize what is right. Let's turn our attention toward a breath of fresh air right here in Ellensburg.

Most of us who have rented have experienced the frustration of a bad landlord. It can make everyday life stressful and turn what should be a home into a source of anxiety. That is why I think it is important to recognize the people who do it well.

As a longtime community member and builder here, Tyler Glahn has quietly earned the respect and gratitude of many people in Ellensburg. In a time when housing is expensive and our town is growing, he builds with quality rather than cutting corners. What he builds is built to last, and that pride in craftsmanship is something tenants notice. My brother recently purchased one of his homes, so I've had the chance to see firsthand that the same care goes into the homes he builds as his apartments.

What has impressed me even more is that this is not just Tyler’s work—it is a family effort. His wife, Katie, and his sons, Ben and Landon, work alongside him. His sons have grown up around this work, and it is clear they are learning the same values of hard work, pride, and commitment to others.

I also want to recognize Chris, who is such an important part of the team. He is involved not only in caring for the properties but also in the building process itself. He works incredibly hard, takes on so much, and somehow still has time to make people laugh. He has a great sense of humor and a way of putting tenants at ease. And if you know Chris, you know he has a soft spot for every cat he meets. Those little things make tenants here feel cared for.

And don't forget Morgan, who helps keep everything moving behind the scenes.

I hope we, as a community, treasure everyone who helps provide quality housing in our community. We need more people who care about the quality of what they build as well as the tenants who live there. I'm not saying he's perfect by any means, but I believe we need to notice what is good and appreciate it.

Sincerely,

C. Ray 2026

This picture surprised me—rocks and a box I painted over the years for their family. Katie Glahn sent it in a text message saying “ We have our morning coffee with our favorite pieces of art every morning.” That felt wonderful.

Writing From the Center of Washington

In 2020, my oldest brother, Richard, gave me a copy of My Ears Are Bent by Joseph Mitchell. Richard has always loved New York City (he’s lived there for about 40 years), and I think his fascination with the city drew him to Mitchell’s writing. Knowing my own attachment to Ellensburg, he thought I might find inspiration in Mitchell’s work and capture our hometown in a similar spirit. Reading Mitchell helped me imagine how to approach the people and stories of Ellensburg with curiosity and care. I was born here, and somehow the town and writing have always found their way into my life, in ways big and small.

That connection showed up early. In 1981, when I was a senior at Bethel High School in Spanaway, I attended a day‑long conference for high school students at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. I went with the Newspaper class, where I served as sports editor of Brave Talk. I chose a feature‑writing workshop, and at the end we had a human‑interest writing competition. I barely remember the story, but I remember winning second place, which felt like first. My strategy, I remember. I looked at the man standing at the front of the room, reading something. I really LOOKED at him. That feeling is the same one that pulls me toward writing about Ellensburg today. Even then, before I thought seriously about writing, Ellensburg was asserting itself.

I didn’t realize how strong that connection was until I was forced to leave. The summer after a wildly alive ninth grade that felt full of life’s possibilities, I was dragged, kicking and screaming, from Ellensburg to Roy. Still, I kept finding my way back, one way or another. I was basically orbiting Ellensburg without fully landing until 2016, when Kathryn Schultz published her widely read article “The Really Big One,” about the Cascadia earthquake. Her reporting finally gave me the excuse I had been waiting for to return permanently. I had wanted to move back for years but never had a compelling enough reason. That article was it. Thank you, Kathryn Schultz, for scaring the crap out of me.

Now I find myself drawn to writing about Ellensburg with the same curiosity and attention Mitchell brought to New York City. I want to capture its people, its rhythms, and its character, not as an outsider looking in, but as someone who has lived here, left, returned, and observed it from multiple angles. I hope to do so boldly and with care, following patterns of truth, humor, and human insight, even as I continue to enjoy playful memoirs like A Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, which reminds me to take risks and embrace boldness in my own voice.