Oh, that’s right, you already know about that, thanks to last week’s letter notifying you that another letter is coming. That first letter cost $57 million to send, in hopes that fewer in-person census takers will be needed.

The Census Bureau is employing other marketing tools to pump up awareness, including a televised Super Bowl ad last month, printed ads in 28 languages and subtle referrals to www.census.gov printed inside fortune cookies — including some found here in Issaquah.

As one commenter on a Web site posting said, “Leave it to the government to trip over a dollar to pick up a dime.” But those dimes do matter, especially to local governments trying to provide your basic water, sewer, roads and public safety services.

Consider what it means to the city of Issaquah. Every resident who is not counted will be about $1,400 less for the city. If 25 households of three people each did not respond, that could be more than $100,000 the city would not get from the estimated $400 billion in federal allocations.

Is the census an invasion of privacy? We don’t think so. This year’s census is one of the shortest in history, only 10 quick questions that should take less than 10 minutes to answer.

It asks households to provide the names of residents and their sex, age, date of birth, race, whether they’re of Hispanic origin, their relationship to the householder, whether the home is owned or rented, and a telephone number. The form does not ask about citizenship or legal status, or your Social Security number. And the information is confidential.

In addition to money for our cities and county, the census is used to determine the number of seats our state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. States with shrinking populations could lose a seat, whereas Washington could be entitled to an additional seat.

Give up 10 minutes of your time and complete the census form when it arrives this week. Do your part to stop government waste by turning it in without a second request.

The United States Postal Service is projecting a $7 billion loss this year, and the picture looks even more bleak over the course of the next decade. Saturday delivery is on the chopping block, but is controversial among many. It shouldn’t be.The postal service has come a long way to meet the changing profile of its business. New technology has reduced the number of employees. New products have been added for customer convenience. Stamps are now available at retail outlets and online. Local post offices now handle passport services. The USPS Web site is fresh, used alongside other marketing tools.

Still, the American public has come to rely on e-mail for its correspondence and electronic bill paying. Only four years ago, the post office was delivering 213 billion pieces of mail, down to 177 billion last year. Mail volume is expected to shrink to 150 billion by 2020.

The idea of cutting Saturday delivery has been discussed for a year or more. It takes Congressional approval for that to happen, but Congress should not hesitate.

The loss of Saturday delivery has one real advantage — security. While many homeowners have gone to locked mailboxes, most have not. A weekend get-away for homeowners means mail waits to be picked up — or snatched by thieves.

We would hope that if Saturday delivery is suspended, mail would still be picked up at drop boxes and routed through the system. There should also continue to be Saturday hours at the Issaquah Post Office, although hours could be cut back. In 1993, Saturday hours were from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., but are now from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Americans would rather see some postal services — like Saturday delivery — curtailed, rather than see stamp prices go up again, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll. We couldn’t agree more. Suggested price hikes would make today’s 44-cent stamp become 50 cents by 2012 — more reason than ever to use electronic delivery services, thereby cutting USPS revenues even more.

The world must adapt to a new reality, and USPS is willing. Congress needs to approve the stop of Saturday delivery.

The decision about the future of Klahanie Park has gone on long enough. Long enough to keep Klahanie residents awake at night, wondering if their central park will become a field of weeds.Long enough for King County Parks to agonize over the ongoing maintenance expense.

Long enough for the city of Sammamish to offer an unwelcome solution and the city of Issaquah to politely keep its distance.

Of course, it isn’t just about a park. The future annexation into either Issaquah or Sammamish is a given, but not in this slow economy. Until then, the Klahanie homeowners association is left to get into the park maintenance and scheduling business on its own or take Sammamish up on its offer and possibly lose control of the park’s future use.

It’s time for one of the parties of interest to take a leadership role and invite all the stakeholders to a meeting. The goal would be to find a solution that keeps the park open, shares some responsibility, and addresses both funding and management.

County parks should take the lead since any new solution makes King County the winner. Stakeholders should include representatives from both cities, including the Issaquah Parks Department, the homeowners, sports groups that use the fields, dog owners who might be concerned with new rules, and anyone else with a good idea and a willingness to compromise.

A solution will most likely include a combination of players. Either city might agree to be the lead agency, handle the field scheduling and cover insurance needs, while the homeowners pay for landscape maintenance and litter clean up. Sports groups can pitch in for field maintenance. Different Klahanie neighborhoods and area youth groups might each take on a volunteer project. King County keeps the park ownership for now, taking property tax payments out of the picture.

Klahanie Park needs to remain open. If no agreement can be reached and the park is left to grow weeds, the homeowners should prepare to take the county to court to force it to at least live up to the rules and covenants that govern property use in Klahanie.

A proposal in the state Senate that would shift property taxes from local districts to the state in order to fund education has the seed of good public policy, but must be explored further.

The bill (SB 6858), co-sponsored by Sen. Cheryl Pflug, generally proposes that local school districts have their levy lid decreased, meaning less local school taxes. In exchange, the state would increase its property tax rate by a corresponding amount.

For the average taxpayer, there would be precious little difference. A different government agency would be taking about the same amount of money from the same pocket.

However, there are some obvious benefits. First is that the state would finally begin to live up to its responsibility to fund education. The extra funding might even be able to jump-start last year’s effort that redefined basic education but did not identify funding for it.

Second, it could reduce local school districts’ dependence on passing a levy every few years just to be able to pay their teachers.

While voters, at least in King County, have been generous, it would only take one failed measure to cripple a district.

We imagine that most school districts would welcome knowing that they have a stable, reliable funding source instead of having to go out hat in hand every third or fourth year.

But the idea also raises some questions. First, how much of the money sent to Olympia would actually find its way back here?

When the state is battling a once-in-a-generation budget problem, it might be tempting for legislators to use some fiscal tricks to help fund other budget priorities.

There is something to be said for keeping money local.

Pflug says that almost two-thirds of districts would receive more funds. What about the other third? We’re not sure how the math works out that such a large proportion of districts would get more money without someone, somewhere getting less.

Pflug’s bill could be a good step toward the state taking responsibility for its share of funding, but the devil is in the details.

All benefit — no drawbacks. In addition to the facility and 170 hospital beds, it will draw more medical and care providers to the community.

Fred Nystrom, Issaquah

I see only benefits from the arrival of a hospital within easy reach of most of Issaquah.

Rick Fournier, Issaquah

How can the city best spend tourism tax dollars?

Reinvest in things that attract conscientious tourism — not simply more traffic. The chamber of commerce probably has tons of specific recommendations.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Pay down our debt so citizens are not taxed so much.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

Why should they spend any? What is wrong with saving tax dollars?

Ken Sessler, Issaquah

I would like to see tourism tax dollars used to fund things that make Issaquah beautiful, such as the Christmas tree lights and holiday decorations, as well as hanging the flower baskets again in the summer. I really missed those this year.

Laurel Redecker, Issaquah

Democrats already enjoy a huge majority and would only need to sway four representatives and two senators to achieve the threshold. We agree they should try, but the attempt would be a fool’s errand. When voters approved the measure mandating the two-thirds threshold, we imagine they thought legislators would be reasonable and actually consider a proposal on its merits. Instead, both parties simply adhere to an entrenched ideology that makes compromise impossible.

No matter what tax increase the Democrats propose, Republicans will predictably be in lockstep opposition to it. This lack of willingness to compromise is what forces the Democrats hand.

The Democrats are doing what they must in an emergency situation. The need to cut $2.8 billion from the budget while keeping up education, public safety, social services, prisons and justice, highway repairs and more —without bankrupting the state — does make this a near crisis. It will be up to each of us as citizens to perk up our watchdog ears to ensure that any tax increases are appropriate and as limited as possible.

The Dems may be willing to step up and do the nasty deed of raising taxes, but they will be walking a tightrope with the voters who will remember that those taxes had better be minimal and have a legitimate need and purpose.

Democrats, of course, also suffer from ideological problems. Their unwillingness to open state employee’s union contracts that provide pay increases leaves a bitter taste if/when the legislators propose a tax hike.

The voters are watching. The state budget will surely set the tone for the fall elections.

Seattle Public Libraries are cutting costs by cutting hours at most of its libraries, while adding hours at other key library locations. The King County Library System should do the same. Instead, it is asking voters for more taxes, to return its maintenance and operations levy to the highest allowed levy rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.The levy rate was last at its lid of 50 cents in 2002, but the rate has dropped as property values increased and total collections were limited to a 1 percent annual increase. Currently, the rate is 36 cents. If voters approve the return to 50 cents, homes valued at $500,000 will pay an extra $70 in 2011 and beyond.

The timing is all wrong. While library usage has increased significantly, a tax increase to the maximum allowed is an insult to struggling families. Furthermore, the wording on the ballot is misleading, allowing voters to think this is a one-time levy increase.

The ballot measure uses the phrase “to restore regular property tax levy rate.” This implies that the rate is usually 50 cents per thousand and they’re simply getting it back to where it belongs. This completely ignores the fact that even though the rate has gone down, homeowners have been paying more every year since the levy was last at 50 cents.

To those uninitiated in the way that Washington property taxes work, it could also imply that the tax is a one-year hike — that the following year, the rate will go back to where it is today.

It then makes a passing reference to a section of state law that governs the way taxes work. If you’re willing to wade through the fine print, you find that this is a tax hike that will be with homeowners forever, not a one-time, one-year fix.

It seems that many state and local agencies will ask for a tax increase this year. We understand the necessity, but homeowners are at a breaking point and something has to give.

We value the services the libraries provide, but this is not the time to lift the levy.

Greg Farrar Press photographer

There’s nothing like wading into the frenetic craziness of more than 500 newly minted teenagers at districtwide middle school dances, like the one held Friday night at the Issaquah Community Center.

Hundreds of gyrating, cheering, talking kids crowd the dance floor. Rock and pop music is being played loudly enough to bust an eardrum. Rainbow and mirrored disco balls and strobes turn the darkened floor into a spectacular light show for the students. Music videos by their favorite bands generate screams that remind an older generation of Beatlemania!

It presents a timely opportunity to express appreciation to the people with Parks and Recreation, who put on events all year. Wonderful folks like Cathy Jones, Stephanie Shimek, Brian Berntsen and Ross Hoover have been working with kids as long as or longer than I’ve been working at The Press.They put on annual events, such as Glitz and Glam, dodgeball tournaments and Beat the Heat Splash Day; bring kids from the school district together for Issaquah Youth Advisory Board meetings; and run events listed in the quarterly Parks and Recreation program.

It takes a lot of energy for adults to work with so many young people, and I sure don’t know where they get it. But it sure is a great place to be, and it must keep one young, because I don’t think they’ve aged a day since I met them.

For years, the center staff has been cultivating young people to be volunteers, to get involved in the community and take on leadership roles. They provide a safe and stimulating after-school social environment, recreation, a computer lab and homework space.

If you are a parent who currently has or once had children who regularly attended events or dropped in on the teen center after school, or if you’re a young adult who was using the center when it first opened more than 10 years ago, you know how special a place it has been.

The people at the center keeping an eye on our young people are some of the most caring and compassionate around, and it’s their teaching by being living examples that is one of the main reasons the young people of Issaquah have matured to be among the best there can be.

If it moves you to show your appreciation for the work they do, here are some ways to help the Parks and Recreation staff serve our youth.

The youth center has a wish list for tools and materials, and right now they need a sewing machine, fabric and thread, scrapbooking supplies, art and school supplies, pool cues and computer software.

There are three middle-school dances every year, and the staff needs about 25 adult volunteers to chaperone and monitor the events. The last one this school year is from 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 30.

Jones would love to hear from you. E-mail her at cathyj@ci.issaquah.wa.us or call 837-3317.

And if you’re ready to join in the constant parade of fun, upcoming events include the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance on Feb. 13, and Family Friday on April 8 with a magic show and fantasy theme.

The community center is an awesome place to be young, thanks to the awesome people who are there on our behalf.

Greg Farrar: 392-6434, ext. 235, or gfarrar@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

If your Feb. 9 election ballot is still sitting in a pile of unopened mail, dig it out and mail it in. The No. 1 concern with passing the levies is getting enough voters to care. If you have kids or grandkids in school or soon to be in school, you probably do care. If you don’t, then care anyway — because the kids in the neighborhood today don’t deserve any less of an education just because the economy is in turmoil.State budget cuts have already got districts scratching for funds to keep classroom sizes from burgeoning out of control and to maintain enhanced educational programs — including athletics, music, arts, advanced placement and others. Administrative cuts have already been made, transportation cuts are done, reserve funds have come into play.

The No. 1 paramount levy, critical to education, is the maintenance and operations levy. If it fails, you can bet the district will try again to gain voter approval — but an election costs money, too.

If the M&O levy still didn’t pass, teachers would be cut. There’s no way around that. The funding of 12 elementary, 17 middle school and 22 high school teachers, and a host of other staff members, are all dependent on passing of the M&O levy. Let’s not go there.

The bus levy will be collected only in 2011 at a rate of $45 on a $500,000 home. It may not seem as critical, but the district would lose out on state funding that offsets the cost of those buses. It makes school buses seem like a bargain.

The third levy, for capital projects, raises some eyebrows. There is no doubt that school buildings and equipment must be maintained, but repairs account for less than 15 percent of the request. The other 85 percent is for technology, including replacement of computers and software. Who can argue the need for replacing computers? These days, it’s a fact of life. The need won’t go away.

The Levy Committee — made up of community members — did its homework and brought a conservative levy package to the table. Vote yes to all three school levy requests. And don’t forget to return your ballot. Heck, why not do it today?

Musical honors Kentlake teacher’s career, legacy

As a Press reporter for four years, it has been my privilege to recount residents’ stories of trials and triumph. I actually look forward to the sometimes-long Issaquah School Board meetings.

What I enjoy most, though, is being welcomed into your schools to talk to your children and grandchildren. Whether they are learning to invert a fraction or hosting a penny drive, they have taught me more than I have taught them.

In the past year, I have worked extensively on a story for our Living magazine, due out Feb. 10, about Issaquah’s mini philanthropists.

In the course of interviews, I have uncovered a truism to living a successful and complete life — give yourself, your talents and your ideas to the world to make it a better place.

This may not be a revelation, but I have found that taking the step to take a risk and share yourself determines your success.So many times, we are invited to participate in something small or large that benefits someone else and we stop to think, how will my life be impacted? It would be better to simply ask, how can I impact someone else’s life?

When a fellow Kentlake High School alumnus messaged me over Facebook to ask for help honoring beloved teacher Pamela Cressey — who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this fall — I reached out.

Though I don’t dance or sing (just ask my friends), nor do I like being onstage in a spotlight, I offered what I could — the ability to communicate.

I am very proud to say the lessons Issaquah students have taught me have helped me become part of a benefit production, “Pamalot: A Musical Theatre Celebration.” I am also truly thankful to the students and alumni at Kentlake who asked me to be a part of raising money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to finance research toward finding a cure for pancreatic cancer — a disease with only a 20 percent survival rate.

The theatrical benefit honors more than 10 years of Cressey’s award-winning work as the drama director at Kentlake and at Cedar Heights Middle School.

The show features scenes from musicals like “Damn Yankees,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and many others.

It wouldn’t be a proper tribute to Cressey, her outlook on life or sense of humor without a little “Monty Python” humor.

The play honors her ability to touch the lives of thousands of students who passed through her classrooms. She is a force, a dynamic teacher and a friend to many students. Even if you didn’t have her as a teacher, your friends did. Because of her teaching, they became better students and better people.

So today, I cross the line — from being an observer to being the one to share my story. I have to say, I believe my life is better for this violation. My life is richer for it and I thank this community for that.

It’s my hope you’ll help us as we endeavor to find a cure for pancreatic cancer by checking out www.Pamalot.org, or by visiting Kentlake, where “Pamalot” runs through Jan. 23.

Chantelle Lusebrink: 392-6434, ext. 241, or clusebrink@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.