To The Editor
August 31, 2010
Guns
No ban is effective without enforcement
The lead story Aug. 18 reported that people are allowed to carry guns into state parks if they have a permit, but that it is illegal to fire them. How ironic is that?
They should not be allowed in, period. But the bottom line is that without enforcement, no gun or booze ban can be effective. Enforcement requires manpower and severe penalties for violation.
Ray Extract
Issaquah Read more
To The Editor
August 24, 2010
Gravity car races
Issaquah, Sammamish Rotary clubs helped make event successful
The Life Enrichment Options organization would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to both the Issaquah and Sammamish Rotary clubs for their superb efforts in partnering with us to provide two highly successful gravity car races this past month.
We received a number of e-mails from parents whose child either overcame a fear to get in a car, or were bubbling over with excitement in racing down a hill to the finish line. Every rider with special needs was a winner, getting his or her trophy and certificate with a picture in a car.
None of this could happen without the wonderful volunteers of the Rotary clubs, Athletes for Kids, Issaquah High School wrestlers, Skyline High School cheerleaders, and football and basketball athletes.
Leo Finnegan and LEO board of directors Read more
To the Editor
August 17, 2010
Summer heat
Don’t forget to keep the family pet safe as temperatures hit record highs
It’s a good time to think about our favorite companions, keeping in mind that summer can be an unusually dangerous time for dogs, cats and other animals.
A few important things to remember:
Dogs should only be walked when it’s cool outside. Concrete gets horribly hot, and can damage the soft pads on a dog’s feet. Early morning or late afternoon are the best times for exercise.
Save games of catch for cooler days, and don’t overexert your dog by playing catch — even in water. The temperature of the water may be too cold too fast, and may cause severe breathing problems — even drowning. Read more
To The Editor
August 10, 2010
Tiger Mountain Trail
While enjoying the beauty, beware of the native wildlife
A note to all my trail running and mountain biking friends, and Tiger Mountain hikers: Recently, I ran to the top of Poo Poo Point from the Issaquah High School trailhead. On the way back down, I was feeling great and flying down the trail. I hardly ever see anyone on this particular route, so I took advantage of the solitude to sing at the top of my lungs.
On one particularly steep stretch, I was running quite quickly and had my eyes glued to the trail so as not to lose my footing. I heard a rustle in the bushes to my left and looked over just in time to see a mama bear glaring at me from less than 20 feet away, while her two little cubs scurried up a tree just behind her. I thought for a moment she was going to chase after me and even at my suddenly fear-fueled pace, I think she could have ran me down quite easily.
Fortunately, she seemed to be content just to glower at me and I sped safely down into the woods. She was either being protective of her cubs, or maybe she didn’t care for my singing.
What a beautiful sight, what a surge of adrenaline and what a near miss! I have seen a few bears from a distance before while backpacking, and even one in the back yard of my home in Issaquah, but a near encounter of a mama bear with cubs is quite a scary thing to (literally) run into. There have been a number of instances here in Western Washington of mountain bikers and runners coming upon bears with cubs and being attacked or mauled because of it.
That was my first bear encounter in more than 20 years of mountain biking or trail running. I wanted to pass on this word of caution. I’ll look into some bells or some other item to make my presence a little bit more well-known on the trail, especially in spring during cub season.
What a great area we live in!
Willy Gevers
Issaquah
Littering
Action needs to be taken to replace apathy toward the environment
After dinner recently, I took my two children to the community center to run around on the lawn. When we arrived, there were three teenage boys sitting against the brick wall behind the stage. When they left, I wandered over to where they were sitting. On the ground was a wrapper from a candy or energy bar, cigarette butts and some other bits of trash.
No more than 20 feet away was a trash bin.
Whenever I, or my wife, walk the trail past the community center and the skate park, there are broken bottles, fast food wrappers and loads of other trash littering the trail and neighboring grounds. This trail is used by tax-paying Issaquah residents, who funded the skate park, to walk their dogs and take their children on bike rides.
While I believe parents are ultimately to blame for the disrespectful behavior of their children, it is the children who should be punished for their actions. According to RCW 70.93.060 it is illegal to dump Read more
To The Editor
August 3, 2010
State park deaths
Incident underscores need to ban both firearms and alcohol
The tragic confrontation at Lake Sammamish State Park punctuates the argument for banning firearms in parks.
Further, although I am personally not a teetotaler, this tragedy provides a solid argument for banning alcoholic beverages in state parks as well. It seems to be the igniter that can inflame passions and lead to the kind of craziness that resulted in this catastrophe.
No sanctions, however, can be effective without enforcement. Park security should be stationed at the entrance and park security should be added to patrol the area. Violation of the firearms ban should be considered a felony mandating a heavy fine and possible incarceration. Bringing alcoholic beverages into the park should carry a heavy fine. Read more
To the Editor
July 27, 2010
Economic vitality
With more and more businesses leaving, leaders need to address tax, sign issues
The economic situation for the past two years has been difficult on many, including our plethora of businesses in Issaquah. We have seen many businesses close, such as Sweet Additions, Sherm’s BBQ, GI Joe’s and Blockbuster, to name a few. Issaquah businesses continue to struggle and are fighting just to survive.
Businesses, and the taxes generated from our transactions, are the lifeblood of our city and state. Without these revenues, our vital services, public safety and quality of life diminish.
Having said this, I urge our city, county and state leaders to ensure local economic vitality by carefully considering all policy decisions through the lens of economic vitality and budget sustainability.
One way our city leaders could achieve this is by examining ways to increase the signage for our businesses, knowing that even a slight improvement to a businesses’ visibility will most likely boast exponential results.
There are other areas that must be looked at, such as revisiting current regulations, taxes and barriers to business success, as well as streamlining the internal permitting process that may hinder future business recruitment into Issaquah.
Issaquah is a magnificent place to live. Let’s also make it a magnificent place to own a business.
Renee Zimmerman
Issaquah
Issaquah Valley Trolley
It will be a sad day when it runs again
Just one look at our trolley can inspire — even if it can’t move two inches in any direction.
The other day, I was feeling sad and old, took one look at the trolley hanging up in the air with its innards all over the floor and felt worlds better. When my son got depressed about the weather, I showed him the trolley with broken windows, moss- and lichen-covered roof — he got all happy that there were clouds in the sky!
When my neighbor had lost a pet, we went to the trolley and it was living inside – thanks trolley! And what of those twisted rails and rotten ties? We walk on them to build stamina and coordination — have not got lock-jaw yet from those rusted nails, but a good source of iron!
It will be a sad day (whenever it happens) when the trolley finally starts running again.
Bryan Weinstein
Issaquah
Decision 2010
Re-elect Marcie Maxwell
Marcie Maxwell is one of the rare breed who believes in the value of underpromise and overdeliver. She doesn’t just talk; she gets the job done. She does the heavy lifting, the late night meetings, the negotiations.
She led the freshman legislators two years ago to pass the strongest education bill in decades. She didn’t say she was going to do it, and still doesn’t take credit for it. But I know, I was there, I watched. Marcie shows up, Marcie does the work, Marcie listens to her constituents.
Marcie is improving education in the state of Washington. We need her to continue this work. Vote for Marcie Maxwell.
Kelly Munn
Sammamish
To The Editor
July 20, 2010
Mountain biking
Include the highlands when making the city a destination for the sport
As a longtime Issaquah resident, I applaud the Issaquah City Council for its foresight in making Issaquah a mountain biking destination.
Issaquah has plenty of hiking trails thanks to the hard work of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club. I can hike a different trail every day for three weeks and not hit a repeat.
However, mountain biking is limited to a few areas, and there is an opportunity for much more. The highlands seems like a perfect location for mountain biking trails, as kids could ride to the trails. At Duthie, there is a large queue of kids waiting to be picked up by their parents; in the highlands, kids could get themselves to the trails. (And hopefully to a new skate park, too.)
I hope the city continues to explore these exciting opportunities. And as part of promoting mountain biking in the area, Issaquah would be well advised to improve road bicycling infrastructure in the city. I have biked thousands of miles through major urban areas and never feared for my life the way I do while cycling in Issaquah.
Kathy Hardy
Issaquah Read more
To The Editor
July 13, 2010
Highlands gas station
Before approving facility, consider broken promises that led to Gulf oil disaster
In response to Mr. Sheehan’s letter in favor of a gas station in the Issaquah Highlands, please consider the news from the Gulf of Mexico.
When the oil companies took more than 10 months to plug the Ixtoc leak (in 160 feet of water) back in 1979, they went on to convince the sleeping officials that they could safely drill in 5,000 feet of water.
Don’t worry, they said, we are prepared to clean up a leak of 200,000 barrels a day if need be. Besides, we know how to contain leaks underwater.
All of these gas station promises will be sitting on top of your drinking water, so as you turn on the tap, think about the Gulf of Mexico, BP and those who are now watching their way of life erode away. Of course, the gas would be closer to home.
Hank Thomas
Issaquah
Greenpeace
Protest exposes Costco’s hypocrisy
I am writing in response to Warren Kagarise’s article (July 7) about the Greenpeace blimp flying around Costco. The article brought attention to several interesting aspects.
I think the article did a good job pointing out the hypocrisy of Costco. It can’t deny that it’s selling species such as orange roughy, Chilean sea bass, Alaskan pollock and many more species whose populations are dwindling. At the same time, it has a “sustainability statement” and its spokesperson says it is mostly selling farmed fish.
Still, we all know farmed fish can be even worse than commercial fishing — just take a look at Atlantic salmon. With the seafood Costco is selling, it is contributing to ruining a commonly shared resource by supporting bottom trawling, overfishing and depletion of species. How sustainable is that?
I think it was honorable that the Costco president met with the protesters, though. That shows that he at least gives a damn.
Anna Tilman
Greenwood Point
To The Editor
July 6, 2010
Dog ordinance
Draconian blanket ban on walking dogs punishes responsible owners
I was at the new Cybil Madeline Park recently at the end of an Issaquah Environmental Council Work party. Next to one of the large piles of freshly removed invasive vegetation and garbage, I noticed the temporary sign for the park and another that bans dogs.
It quotes Municipal Code 6.08.021, Ord. 1567, which states: “It is unlawful for the owner or custodian of any domestic animal to cause, permit or allow such animal to enter any city park where posted.” Being a dog owner, walker, taxpayer and previous supporter of this park, I was taken aback by this.
To me, it seems ridiculous to totally ban dogs from our parks. I think that dogs should be licensed, leashed, stay out of the tot lots, off the sports fields, and the owners need to be responsible and pick up after their pets. However, it is crazy to me to totally ban people from responsibly walking their leashed dogs through a public park. I thought Issaquah was supposed to be a Trail City and Cybil Madeline Park was going to be our Central Park?
After a bit of thought, I realized that this draconian policy probably got slipped in on us last year when there were problems at Timberlake Park. That park is rather small and isolated, so maybe banning dogs there made sense to someone. However, it makes no sense to me to make the ultimate solution to an isolated problem at one small neighborhood park to totally ban dogs from every city park in Issaquah.
This blanket ban of dog walking in all of our parks is a ridiculous policy, and one I am going to remember the next time I am asked to open my wallet for the next park bond.
C.A. Christensen
Issaquah
Trail system
No fix is needed; bikers already have paved streets for their paths
Mark Lyon’s letter last week rightly celebrated the beauty of our Issaquah trail system. However, his suggestion that we should pave paradise — or at least the part of it that runs behind the high school — would move the trail system in exactly the wrong direction.
As a biker, Mark has miles of trails on which to ride: They’re called streets. As one of many local dog walkers and hikers, we cherish those few paths that get joyously muddy, offer sloppy puddles and otherwise merge into the surrounding charms of Tiger Mountain. The trail ain’t broke and there’s no need to fix it.
Wes Howard-Brook
Issaquah
To The Editor
June 29, 2010
Relay for Life
Many contributors helped make event a success, raising $242,000
On June 5, members from our community took to the track at Skyline High School for another great Relay For Life event. While the sunny weather was a great addition, it was the people involved who truly made this year’s Relay For Life an outstanding event and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
We’d like to extend our gratitude to the following contributors: the planning team of volunteers who spent the year organizing the event; the team captains and team members who raised money and awareness for cancer education during the relay season; our day-of-event volunteers who helped set up and prepare; and our sponsors and community businesses that made generous donations.
Most importantly, we want to recognize the individuals who demonstrated determination and passion for life as they walked the first lap, dedicated for cancer survivors and their caregivers. Thank you to those who chose to recognize loved ones by dedicating a luminaria in their name for the evening ceremony. And thank you for those who walked through the night and continued on in the rain. Together, everyone who attended this year’s relay event was a great example of why we fight back to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to create a world with more birthdays.
We are happy to announce that we have surpassed our goal and have so far raised $242,000 in the fight against cancer. Thank you! The 2010 Relay For Life of Issaquah is continuing to raise money until August. If you would like to make a donation or participate in next year’s event, please go to www.issaquahrelayforlife.org.
Karen Conley and Stacy Strickland
Issaquah Relay For Life Event co-chairs
