A move by The Boeing Co. to return to the Renton Municipal Airport for its expanding 737 program may end plans for the facility to become a regional corporate jet center. Many Islanders will draw a sigh of relief. Yet many questions remain. What will happen to the noise study presently underway? And can it or other measures be employed to reduce the amount of overhead aircraft noise that Islanders experience now? Let’s keep the momentum going to address these issues.

The finalization of the sale of the Boys & Girls Club’s East Seattle property to Island businessman Michael O’Brien will probably not end the debate for many Islanders as to the appropriateness of siting the PEAK facility on school land. Yet aside from what happens and when with PEAK, Mr. O’Brien can move ahead with his generous plan to develop community baseball fields — a place no doubt that will be an asset to our community.

And speaking of giving…

Two letters published today show how Islanders help neighbors and strangers in ways both big and small.

Whether or not it is a neighbor who is ill, a passerby struggling to carry groceries on the street, or those in need across the country or the world, Islanders step up. To be sure there are many organized ways to help others with goods and money — bake sales by teens, church festivals to fund projects, contributing to the food pantry at Youth and Family Services and helping at schools or with homelessness. But it is the little gestures out of the blue that count too -— whether on the giving or receiving end.

Sometimes it is obvious when someone needs our help, other times, it is difficult to tell. We worry whether or not we will intrude, whether we presume too much, if we will offend.

But it is important to ask — much better than turning away.