Since becoming publisher of the Valley Record in October 2008, one characteristic I have quickly and regularly noticed about the people of the Valley is their generosity and their resilience.

Whether it was the 2009 flood, the Great Recession, miscellaneous ice and snow storms and days-long power outages, or even the Taylor Bridge Fire over the pass in Cle Elum and Ellensburg, the Valley has always come together to generously support others affected by events.

After the terrible explosion that tore a hole through downtown North Bend early Friday morning, we are truly grateful that no one was killed or seriously hurt. However, several businesses were flattened, destroyed or seriously damaged. Nearby homes and apartments were also badly damaged, but hopefully can be repaired soon.

We as a Valley and we as a business community need to come together to help not only these individual businesses and the people who worked there whose livelihoods were affected, but also the city of North Bend in its efforts to heal and spring back from this terrible and unfortunate accident.

Here at the Valley Record, and at my other local publications in Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue and Mercer Island, we’ll be using our print, Web and social media outlets to keep the Valley and the rest of the Eastside informed about this unfortunate event.

We’ll also be encouraging partnerships with our friends across the street at the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce and with other local Eastside Chambers and business groups as to how they can use their resources and membership to lend a hand to those businesses that were ruined or damaged.

But most important, we’ll be letting you know how each and every one of us can help North Bend and its affected businesses and residents pick themselves up again.