To the Editor
June 18, 2013
Klahanie annexation
Don’t muddy the issue with water
Regarding Tom Harman’s May 29 letter, I ask, “Were you at the same Klahanie meetings I attended?” Here’s what I heard at both of them.
Mr. Harman, president of the Sammamish Plateau and Sewer District, never indicates that in his letters. When it comes to water issues, that makes his comments extremely suspect. At both meetings, the study producers said they thought Sammamish Water might continue to supply the Klahanie Potential Annexation Area with water/sewer services. It’s open to negotiation.
The Issaquah-Fall City Road problem was mentioned at both meetings. No matter which city ends up with Klahanie, it will have to talk with King County about who will pay for upgrades. These meetings were not the forums for this discussion.
Editorial
June 11, 2013
Don’t mix alcohol with graduation parties
Graduation Day at our local high schools brings a whole range of emotions — pride, relief, amazement. And trepidation.
Certainly, the anxiety comes from the unknown future as students prepare to move away from families and begin new life, job and educational challenges.
But the first wave of fear is about the well-deserved partying in celebration of commencement and warm weather that often goes hand-in-hand with drunken driving and the loss of life of a local graduate or student while summer is just getting started.
To the Editor
June 11, 2013
Tree City?
Have respect for trees, city values
Tree City USA is a nice sentiment in Issaquah, but the reality is some of our absentee landlords don’t have any respect for trees or other homeowners’ property.
On May 31, 2013, neighbors called us at work to let us know a crew was trimming our prized Atlas cedar: each and every single branch that was hanging over the fence! Nobody asked, nobody commented, nobody even advised – they just cut. Now, the tree is halved, lopsided and provides our neighbors with nothing but the view of the inside of our tree. How sad.
Off The Press
June 11, 2013
At least I don’t talk with my mouth full
A funny thing happened the last time I played poker.
Another player was slowly verbalizing her options in a particularly big pot when she said, “I never talk to myself. I only do this at the poker table.”
David Hayes
Press reporter
That provided me with a personal epiphany. I did the same thing. Which made me wonder, just what else do I do at the poker table I don’t do anywhere else in life?
Sometimes, I break the niceties of sportsmanship and harshly criticize another player for something they did (usually to my detriment).
Rediscover the wonders at your local library
June 4, 2013
Joe Grove
Press reporter
When teaching high school English, I sometimes worried if we were entering a post-literate age, as there are so many students who don’t like to read or write. Are we going to again see a time when professional scribes carry the burdens and blessings of literacy?
News stories abound containing complaints about barely literate high school and college graduates. Human resource people look at résumés and shake their heads.
Literacy should start at home with parents who read and talk to their children about books. When that doesn’t happen, it leaves children at a disadvantage. To help make this happen, most communities provide astounding resources through free lending libraries.
To the Editor
June 4, 2013
Firearms
Gun control doesn’t mean having no gun laws
After reading the letter by Michael Marinos, I feel that I must comment. He first writes of the paranoia due to the media reporting only bad news about weapons. And, as a result, he is unable to establish a business in North Bend (evidently a gun shop, but he does not elaborate on the type of business). This business would evidently be quite lucrative to him, but without it he will be unable to pay his mortgage or monthly bills.
Now, let’s face some facts. Yes, there has been a lot of bad news about people with guns killing people. (You notice I didn’t say guns killed people, but people with guns killed people.) Should we ask the media to keep this bad news under wraps so we wouldn’t be exposed to it?
Volunteerism is city’s most treasured value
June 4, 2013
One of Issaquah’s best assets and most treasured values is its volunteer spirit. The city has grown enough that a volunteer coordinator is becoming critical to keep that spirit going.
It’s that time of year when organizations are recognizing their many volunteers. The awards culminated last week with the annual Community Awards event. Everything from environmental work to education advocates were recognized by assorted organizations, including the city.
Maxwell Tang, the Youth Leadership Award winner, said after the awards that hearing each honoree’s story has inspired him to want to come back after college to play a part in Issaquah’s future.
To the Editor
May 28, 2013
Community thank you
I’m grateful for being surrounded with love, support
I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the great people of Issaquah.
My husband, the father of our 12-year-old daughter, passed away suddenly two months ago. From the very day that he passed, there were people at our door offering prayers, condolences and food. Some of these people I had never even met before.
I am eternally grateful for all the love and support you have given my family in our time of need.
Brandi Farrell
Issaquah
Off The Press
May 28, 2013
I’m glad to help make government transparent
I went to a discussion dinner recently that focused on civil behavior and the responsibility of government. I am excited. One of the topics that arose centered on the transparency of government and it made me romanticize all over again the profession of journalism and what I feel it gives to the world.
The other diners had varying opinions regarding this, but most contended that government should be more open for the citizens it serves.
Peter Clark
Leaving aside state and federal governments, I will say that local governments that I have covered, included my short time here in Issaquah, have been exceedingly transparent. In this city’s new website, they appear to painstakingly put in most every piece of paper that is offered to the mayor, the council or different departments. Likewise, they offered limited public comments on many issues and hold public hearings on the most important, such as on the Klahanie potential annexation area.
Editorial
May 28, 2013
Fall council elections look to be ho-hum
Isn’t it wonderful how happy everyone is with the future of the city of Issaquah?
We assume that’s the case, since incumbent City Council members up for re-election this fall have all gone unchallenged, giving Stacy Goodman, Tola Marts and Eileen Barber another four-year term. Even Mary Lou Pauly gets a free ride into office with no challenger for the council’s only open seat.
Apparently the potential for increased fire department costs, the potential annexation of 10,800 people in the Klahanie area and the beginning stages of redevelopment of the valley floor without any real transportation solutions is OK with everyone. Or, are there just no options and Issaquah residents are willing to accept continued growth as just the way it will be?
