To the Editor
February 7, 2012
Issaquah treasures
Story about aerobics instructor Kristina Gravette was long overdue
I was delighted to finally see recognition given to an Issaquah treasure, aerobics instructor Kristina Gravette. I have been a regular participant, more or less, for several years. Not normally an early riser, I’m glad when I’ve made the effort to get to the 8:15 a.m. class.
Bumping and grinding to music, my fellow exercisers and I attempt to shed some calories and inches while also keeping old age at bay. Most of us are no longer spring chickens. The majority are middle-aged women and senior citizens trying to keep our body parts from rusting or shutting down altogether.
Class routines keep our brains agile and our bodies pumped. Poles, chairs, flex bands, weights and step platforms are tools that vary our exercise. Changing things up enhances muscle memory and staves off stagnation. Sit-ups, lunges, crunches, pelvic tilts and squats tweak our body parts. Stretching and yoga gently cool us down.
To the Editor
January 31, 2012
Extreme weather
The aloha spirit thrives in Issaquah
As a native of Maui who has resided on the mainland for 35 years I am never prepared for snow, ice and the accompanying chill. Although I’ve seen more of the white stuff in New York and Connecticut, where my family lived prior to moving to Issaquah, I can’t say that being inundated with less pleases me more.
I’ll never be a snow bunny, not that I’ve tried. I’m an islander through and through. So, I’ll roast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate while warming myself before a blazing fire.
To the Editor
January 24, 2012
Winter weather
Newspaper provides information readers needed in the emergency
Just a grateful thank you for the real-time news updates on your website regarding the opening of emergency shelters this evening in downtown Issaquah and the plateau.
I am a ham radio operator who is rendering communication assistance to an elderly lady, with a medical condition, living in downtown Issaquah. She is being helped by a neighbor, but they have been without power all day (and will continue to be all night). Fortunately, I am located out of the downtown area and didn’t lose my power, so I have been able to monitor your website for your news updates.
The publishing of the emergency shelter openings was a very critical piece of information I was able to relay to the person assisting the elderly lady, as well as to other Seattle area emergency networks throughout the evening.
Everyone was relieved and thankful to know there were local area shelters open in Issaquah and on the plateau.
I can’t thank you enough for making this information available after hours in such a timely manner so it could be passed on to those without power and no access to the Web.
Kevin Millar
To the Editor
January 17, 2012
Rowley development
Moving Tibbetts Creek is a good idea
Readers have posted a couple of comments in The Issaquah Press on the Rowley Development that have advocated against moving Tibbetts Creek away from the northwestern portion of Hyla Crossing. Normally, moving a creek out of its natural channel in order to allow development in the former creek buffer is a bad idea.
In this case, however, moving this portion of the creek could help right a wrong that was done many years ago, when a sewer main was installed with a road above it, and the creek was put in a straight ditch 10 feet from the road. By moving the creek into a meandering loop to the west, installing large woody debris, and planting native trees and shrubs in the new buffer, the natural functions of the creek and the stream buffer could be improved, as was done in a section of the creek to the south. This would also direct the stream away from possibly contaminated soils, which may be present near the road and warehouse area.
Carefully done restoration could result in a win-win situation for both the developer and the environment.
Janet Wall
Issaquah
To the Editor
January 10, 2012
Development
City Council decision will turn Issaquah into the next downtown Bellevue
Thank you very much to our mayor and City Council for making a decision for Issaquah to become the next Bellevue with the future redeveloping of Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center, consisting of 150 foot buildings and cluttering our already overcrowded roads with more traffic.
Families moved to Issaquah because it was a quaint town but will be no more. Does this mean Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center have an agreement with the city to pay for road improvements to accommodate the additional traffic?
To the Editor
January 3, 2012
Re: DownTown Issaquah Association hires new director
As a business owner on Front Street, I was disappointed with last year’s decision by the DownTown Issaquah Association to dismiss Greg Spranger. It was a monumental mistake.
Greg was the driving force of the association and received tons of accolades from the city and our community for his achievements. In my opinion, he was the DIA.
I hope Ms. Donovan (new executive director) does well and can mirror Greg’s devotion and contribution to Issaquah (a difficult feat at best). Only time will tell if she stays or joins the bandwagon of resigned members and rides off into the sunset.
In that event, the association should ask Greg to come back and get the DIA back on track.
Roland Segers
Issaquah
To the Editor
December 27, 2011
Thank you
Community spirit appreciated when lost money bag was returned
Kudos to the thoroughly honest and kind gentleman who found and turned in my small Ziploc bag full of Christmas money for my grandchildren. Additional thanks to Panera Bread employees for keeping it intact for me until I could return and retrieve it.
Just another example of Issaquah being such a nice community filled with good people — I’m so glad to be an Issaquah resident.
Martha Franklin
Issaquah
To the Editor
December 20, 2011
City streets
More crosswalks are needed
I’d like to ask the city of Issaquah to give its citizenry a holiday gift of a few more crosswalks on Sunset Way.
At Fifth Street, there’s the orthodontist’s miniature parking lot obligating many patients to park across Sunset and dash between cars, not to mention people crossing from the funeral home’s lot, and it gets pretty hairy in the afternoons. I walk around this town daily and although drivers don’t really wait until my dog and I are through the white lines before speeding on, I’d like to see a lot more official crosswalks from Second through Sixth streets.
Merry Christmas!
Nancy Wagner
Issaquah
To the Editor
December 13, 2011
Rules of the road
Thank you Issaquah police for enforcing no thru traffic at community center
On behalf of those people who use the community center early in the day, when the schools are about to start, I wish to thank the Issaquah Police chief for assigning two officers, for 30 minutes or so, to check car drivers who do not observe the “NO THRU TRAFFIC” sign.
To the Editor
December 6, 2011
Graffiti
Criticism of problem in downtown was not directed at any one building
I am sorry if my comments on Nov. 15 were taken as directed toward any one individual; they were not. The problem of tagging in downtown is bigger than one building.
The suggestion that it is the DownTown Issaquah Association’s job to clean the graffiti is not mine, but rather that of the headline to my letter, which I did not write. I was pointing out that, historically, the former executive director of the DIA would inform businesses of tagging, and work with them to find a remedy.
It was my understanding that the executive director position was eliminated at the DIA in favor of a part-time community relations position. We now learn that there is once again an executive director position, so I guess I have been confused about the structural changes this year in the organization.
