To the Editor
August 7, 2012
Maureen McCarry
Thank you means everything
Ask a 5-year-old on the first day of faith formation to draw a picture of God and you will be enlightened. Back will come a heart — because God is just love unconditional, and always there.
When I first heard of Maureen’s diagnosis with ALS, I had a difficult time with that wisdom. And as Maureen would continually remind me that the most important words she would miss saying were “thank you,” I tried hard to understand.
To the Editor
July 31, 2012
Summer Lunch Program
Food bank feeds hundreds of children
We would like to thank all our Summer Lunch Program supporters. Contributions to help feed children during the summer months have been streaming in from all over the place.
We have several hundred children that are receiving full bags of food each week. Their lunch bags are full with breakfast, lunch and snack items, and a typical bag has peanut butter, jelly, fresh fruit, granola bars and cereal.
To the Editor
July 24, 2012
Gravity cars
Thanks to everyone for great day
I want to thank the Rotary Club of Issaquah for the very successful 15th annual Challenge Race for kids with mental and physical challenges.
Forty-five kids with challenges had an exciting day of racing. It provided a thrilling experience for the participants and resulted in a lot of big smiles. It was a day that they and their parents will not forget for a long time.
The many hours of planning and tremendous amount of work on race day by the Rotary members have made this a very special event for the families of challenged kids in our community. Thanks, Rotary Club. You made the day for a lot of families.
Leo Finnegan and Life Enrichment Options board
Issaquah
To the Editor
July 17, 2012
State Senate
Voting for the right person comes before blind party loyalty
As I leave office, I have the unique opportunity to speak out, from an insider’s viewpoint, about the unfortunate processes by which decisions are too frequently made in our government, ostensibly for our benefit. Those who believe the end justifies the means may prefer to stop reading here. Those who, like me, have come to believe the means defines the end may share my concern about the election maneuvering occurring in the 5th Legislative District.
This is about putting the proverbial lipstick on a pig. Senate Republicans and Republican State Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur know their candidate, Brad Toft, has a long history of questionable behavior. Rather than support a better candidate, they seek to silence those who would speak out against Toft. Where a candidate’s main activity is to respond to questions about his/her record, this is a huge red flag.
To the Editor
July 10, 2012
Plastic bags
Ban punishes businesses
Thank heaven for the initiative to place the plastic bag ban on the ballot. It’s sad that the liberal City Council thinks the residents are too dumb to make their own choices in such matters as plastic versus paper bags, and cardboard or pressed paper carry-out containers (which leak). The ones who will really bear the burden of this misguided law are the businesses of Issaquah.
When the City Council makes it too difficult or too annoying to do business in Issaquah, there are plenty of other cities around that will gladly take that business. I don’t believe in punishing the businesses for the council’s stupidity, but the stores and restaurants owe it to their customers to teach do-gooder politicians that you don’t make life difficult for customers and expect them to stay loyal. There’s too much competition out there that will gladly take their business.
To the Editor
July 3, 2012
Plastic bags
City Council is thinking locally while acting globally
I read the front-page article in the June 20 issue about the possibility that the new bag ban could go to the voters. Seriously?
To me it seems that the people we voted for to do what is best for our city have it handled. I think that it is not just good for our city but these increasing bans are, on a larger scale, good for the country and perhaps in a global perspective good for the planet. Even in the poorest of poor countries, such as Bangladesh, they have outlawed plastic bags!
We live in a community and our outlook needs, in my opinion, to include that larger perspective. It is the laws and, please do forgive me, the taxes and fees that help to keep us living in a so-called civil society. Odds are good that without these pieces of legislation in place many human beings will do what is easiest.
In this case, we will continue to use plastic bags. Throw your reusable cloth bags in with a regular load of wash for goodness sakes and just think of using them as for the greater good, which it is.
I know this is simplistic but we only have one planet. If we keep trashing it our children and grandchildren will pay the price in a much bigger way than 5 cents for a paper bag.
Elizabeth Panni
Issaquah
To the Editor
June 26, 2012
Community concert
Thank you, Liberty and Maywood students
Kudos to the Liberty High School Singers and the Maywood Middle School Choirs under the direction of Mrs. Robin Wood. Their community concert recently was another example of why Issaquah schools have a reputation for excellence.
Singing selections that ranged from Bach to the Jackson Five, the performance was a treat for everyone attending. The infectious enthusiasm of Mrs. Wood for her students and their individual talents was returned in kind with energy and professionalism from the sixth-graders to the graduating seniors.
Mary Jo Kahler
Sammamish
To the Editor
June 19, 2012
Angela House
LEO gives thanks to the community for supporting young adults with developmental disabilities
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Life Enrichment Options I want to give my heartfelt thank you to the Issaquah community for its support in helping build a new home for five young adults with developmental disabilities.
The new house, named the Angela House after founding board member Angela Dews, will open sometime late this summer, making a dream come true for its new residents.
Special thanks go to our partners Polygon Homes Northwest, Milbrandt Architects and Port Blakely Communities for their contributions, without which the home could not have been built. Read more
To the Editor
June 12, 2012
Plastic bags
Ban won’t reduce useage as much as Grocery Association lets on
I’m disappointed to see that the City Council passed the plastic bag ban. The voters of Issaquah were denied a chance to decide on an issue that will affect everyone. The Northwest Grocery Association supported this ban. Why wouldn’t they? They don’t have to give away free bags anymore and get to charge 5 cents per bag. I doubt that grocery prices will go down.
So, we will have to pay 5 cents per bag or we will have to reuse bags that the grocers sell us (more money). What’s wrong with reusable bags? Assuming you keep them in your car, so you don’t forget them, you are putting food in a bag (which may or may not contain lead) that’s been harvesting bacteria and dirt from the trunk of your car. Alternatively, you can wash your reusable bags every time, using even more water and detergent — very green of us, isn’t it?
To the Editor
June 5, 2012
Good Samaritans
Thank you after serious accident
We’d like to say a special thank you to the young men who helped our granddaughter, Katie Walters, after her horrendous accident on Interstate 90, where her car crossed all lanes and landed upside down in Issaquah Creek. She is so lucky to be alive! It appears she will be OK.
Thank you everyone who witnessed, and called 911. She and we are so grateful.
Laurel and Vern Redecker
Issaquah
