Is this a community event which I see before me?

Two cool community events happened to take place over the past weekend.

On one hand, Ephrata High School concluded its run of "The Compleat Wrks of Wm Shkspr, Abridged."

Those who did not go missed out on an opportunity to see some of Grant County's youth at their finest.

I was always a wannabe participant in my own high school drama department, but never did for a variety of reasons — the chief one being the fact that thespians never sleep, particularly those who have to balance their craft with school work and other work. But in hanging out with the actors and actresses, I developed an appreciation for the hours they put in and the hard work they displayed.

The same holds true for the EHS students, who were up on stage acting their hearts out for the pleasure of their families, friends and surrounding community members. Heaven only knows what kind of efforts it took to bring the entire works of the Bard — in a fashion — to a high school stage, but it paid off in droves.

Twenty-three or so miles away, another group made its best efforts to get out amongst the community, as members of the Moses Lake City Council held their first Council on the Square Saturday morning.

It was cool to see the leaders of the city making themselves readily available to community members. Even if one of those community members was an off-duty business and agriculture reporter who got a little too excited at the sight of the Krispy Kreme doughnuts the city council members had on hand.

And I think they laughed off my suggestion that they also sell lemonade for 5 cents a little too quickly, but that's neither here nor there …

Again, anyone who missed out on the event has only themselves to blame for not utilizing this opportunity.

Fortunately, at the event, city administrator Joe Gavinski and councilman Brent Reese indicated they would like to put the event on again in the future, and on a semi-regular basis, which would be all the better for those people who weren't able to attend this time around. Plus, here's betting, if "Shkspr" was any indication, the EHS drama crew has an embarrassment of riches in its bag o' tricks, all the better for future performances and future productions.

On the surface, the two events don't seem to have all that much in common. One is a bunch of youth putting on a comedic look at one of the most reknowned authors of all time, the other is a bunch of politicians simply making themselves readily available for their constituents.

But both fly in the faces of those who would make the complaint that there's nothing to do in the Columbia Basin, and no way to make the politicians hear the voice of the people.

These were just two opportunities, practically right in our own backyards.

Matthew Weaver is that aforementioned overly excited Columbia Basin Herald business and agriculture reporter. He prefers old fashioned glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but will take blueberry in a pinch.