By DEBERA CARLTON HARRELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

"Community" is a common phrase used by people living and working in Edmonds. Many laud civic participation.

For example, while many of the residents' children no longer attend school, Edmonds voters have regularly passed school maintenance and operations levies. New schools are being built and a recent capital improvements bond passed on the second try.

Arvilla Ohlde, Edmonds parks and recreation manager, said "there's a sense of ownership" among citizens in Edmonds. People have a habit of pitching in, whether putting on a cultural event, beautifying streets with planters or developing recreation programs.

"This town is like a jewel; it's a wonderful community," Ohlde said. "The ability to live here and be civilized, to protect assets, is really a high expectation here. It makes for a high level of community commitment."

Bill Toskey, executive director of the Port of Edmonds and a current board member and former chairman of the Edmonds Economic Development Alliance, said there is a consensus and commitment to expanding business -- and the city's tax base -- even if how to do it is a point of debate.

"Some people think if you have enough of one kind of business -- like antique stores -- you become a magnet," Toskey said. "Others say the competition can hurt. But most agree that we should have more businesses, particularly around the arts. No other community caters to the arts like we do."

He said the city is actively recruiting tourism as well as businesses such as a drugstore.