To the Editor
January 25, 2011
Tucson, Ariz., shooting
Assigning blame to Tea Party critics is irresponsible, inflammatory rhetoric
Re: Tea Party organizer takes exception to being called an accomplice to murder:
Delvin, the government has not destroyed half of your life savings; the mortgage industry and banks did that. And unless you pulled all of your retirement investments out of the market, most of it is back. Yes, your income is taxed, just as it has been and will continue to be; nothing new there. As for the health care legislation, whether or not it is good or bad for you (or me) is far from clear. Hard to tell from all of the misinformation.
The terrible shootings in Tucson are apparently the work of a severely mentally sick individual. There is no evidence to Jan. 26 that the unhealthy level of political discourse so common in America today influenced the actions of the shooter. It is wrong to accuse you of being an accomplice to murder because of your apparent support of inflammatory rhetoric; that conclusion is clearly yours.
On the other hand, the irresponsible and unsubstantiated allegations of extremists add nothing to an intelligent conversation about the real outcomes of legislation like healthcare. What is required is a fact-based discussion, minimizing partisan opinions, about how best to deal with the real problems we face as a nation.
“Who is it that politicized this terrible tragedy?” you ask. Pogo had the answer: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Your comments don’t help.
Paul Beckman
Ravensdale
Nominate outstanding historic preservation projects for honor
January 25, 2011
The people responsible for preserving the past could receive some recognition in the near future.
The state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation seeks notable people, organizations and projects for the 21st Annual Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Historic Preservation.
The agency recognizes recipients during a ceremony in May — National Historic Preservation Month.
Participants can nominate people, organizations and projects in one of the following categories: historic preservation planning, historic property rehabilitation projects, career achievement, public education, stewardship, special achievement and media.
Nominations must be postmarked or submitted to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation by 5 p.m. March 4.
Find the nomination form at the agency website. Or call Russell Holter at 360-586-3533 or e-mail russell.holter@dahp.wa.gov to learn more.
The awards ceremony — sponsored by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation — is May 3. The event takes place at the Capitol.
Issaquah Medical Building project receives boost from state
January 25, 2011
The planned Issaquah Medical Building is in line to receive $13.2 million in bonds, Gov. Chris Gregoire and the state Department of Commerce announced Jan. 18.
Plans call for a medical office building spread across 55,000 square feet.
The building is designed to meet Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Gold standards. The site for the building is along the just-completed Interstate 90 Undercrossing.
Overall, Gregoire and Department of Commerce leaders announced almost $100 million in bonds to fund economic development, energy conservation and infrastructure projects in King, Cowlitz, Skagit and Whatcom counties.
“These investments are critical to our economic recovery,” Gregoire said in a statement. “They help local communities jump start important projects to improve their infrastructure, while putting people to work — primarily in construction, a sector that has been hit especially hard by the national recession.”
Officials said the projects should create or retain more than 700 jobs.
“Commerce’s mission is to grow and improve jobs in Washington,” Department of Commerce Director Rogers Weed said in the statement. “The 700-plus jobs supported by these projects are desperately needed, and represent another step forward in our state’s economic recovery.”
Issaquah-based SeaCon is building the medical office. The company also completed a piece of the undercrossing to facilitate access to the Issaquah Medical Building.
St. Joseph is accepting applicants
January 25, 2011
The St. Joseph School invites families to enroll their children for the 2011-12 school year.
St. Joseph, founded in 1994, has three campuses: a preschool in Sammamish; a preschool through third-grade campus in Issaquah; and a fourth-grade through eighth-grade campus in Snoqualmie.
Get information meeting times at www.sjsissaquah.org, or contact the school office at office@sjsissaquah.org or 313-9129 to schedule a one-and-a-half-hour tour. Registrations for the Catholic schools are due Feb. 18.
Local families needed to host Chernobyl children
January 25, 2011
The 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster is April 26. More than 750,000 children are still living in the most contaminated areas.
For the Children of the World provides health respite and rest for these children by providing some basic medical and dental care, and a chance to replenish their system with a clean environment and healthy food.
Time spent away from the radiation allows their bodies to flush out contaminants, so their immune system can rebuild and fight the effects when they return home.
This year, 20 children are looking for host families in the U.S. from June 14 – July 26. If interested in hosting a child (or sharing host responsibilities), call 206-953-2279 or go to www.ftcotw.org.
Registration opens for AtWork! breakfast fundraiser
January 25, 2011
Help AtWork! raise money for programs as the nonprofit organization hosts a fundraising breakfast April 13. The event runs from 7-9 a.m. at The Westin Bellevue.
Registration is open for the event. The fundraiser is open to individuals, groups and corporate sponsorships. Register online at www.atworkwa.org/breakfast2011/index.html.
AtWork! is dedicated to helping disabled people learn skills, find and retain jobs. The organization designs customized employment solutions to enhance workplace productivity, and the lives of clients. AtWork! also offers clients a range of training and employment opportunities in landscaping, recycling and document-management services.
The organization operates a recycling and training facility along Seventh Avenue Northwest in Issaquah.
King County Council appoints jail director
January 25, 2011
King County Council members have confirmed Bellevue Councilwoman Claudia Balducci as the director of the county Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, the agency responsible for the King County Jail.
Balducci has served in the role as acting director since October.
The council confirmed the appointment Jan. 10. County Executive Dow Constantine praised the appointment.
“Claudia has earned respect in the corrections community and the region at large, and her unique combination of experience with labor and with cities provides a foundation for continued strong partnerships,” he said in a statement. “She brings intelligence, a willingness to listen and enthusiasm that will help lead us to continued improvements in the safety of the public, inmates and staff at our facilities.”
Balducci has served the county in numerous roles since 1999.
In the most recent post, she served as the county’s settlement coordinator as the U.S. Department of Justice checked improvements to inmate care at the jail. Balducci has also served the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention as operations manager, regional jail coordinator and labor negotiator. In addition, she has served on the Bellevue City Council since 2004.
Nominate environmentalists for Ruth Kees award
January 25, 2011
Nominate environmentalists for the top city eco-honor — the Ruth Kees Environmental Award for a Sustainable Community.
The annual award recognizes people for a record of outstanding commitment to natural resource preservation. Kees, a teacher, mentor and role model, advocated open space preservation and environmental protection.
The application is available on the municipal website. Submit nominations until 5 p.m. Feb. 25.
Then, a committee reviews nominees and recommends a group of finalists to Mayor Ava Frisinger and City Council President John Traeger for selection.
The award is usually presented at a spring or summer council meeting.
Tuition hikes affect college decisions
January 25, 2011
Tuition hikes at Washington public universities make higher education an even bigger investment
By Ehrik Aldana
Over the next two years, tuition at the University of Washington and other state universities is expected to increase up to 11 percent per year. Washington’s community colleges would see increases of about 9 percent per year. And that still won’t be enough.
Students put their many talents on display
January 25, 2011
Junior Statesmen of America lets students debate on civic issues
One of the largest student-run organizations at Issaquah High School is Junior Statesmen of America.
By Alex Tucker
“JSA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, student-run organization to evoke political awareness in teens through activism and debate,” said Sarah Greenhall, Issaquah’s JSA chapter president.
JSA provides the opportunity for students to form opinions, learn about the way their government is run and speak their minds. During meetings, “we formally debate using parliamentary procedure on hot topics, such as WikiLeaks and gay marriage,” Greenhall said.
