Three tickets within a week suggests new system is a little unfair

I just sent $160 to the Issaquah Municipal Court for fines I got on Second Street by Issaquah High School. The fine was originally $375, but was reduced after I threw myself at the mercy of the court.

It was mid-morning; there were no children. I never glanced at my speedometer, because I felt I was doing a safe speed — 27 mph I later found out — given conditions and no pedestrians being present.

At the high school, I picked up poinsettias I bought from a fundraiser. On my way home, I was doing 29 mph and, unbeknownst to me, got my second speeding infraction in less than five minutes.

A week later, still not knowing I had gotten two tickets, I was delivering a Christmas present to an IHS teacher when I went through there again, this time at 30 mph, and got a third ticket. A week later, I got my Christmas present.

I feel I’m a safe driver and law-abiding citizen. I don’t stare at my speedometer and feel I am safer and more vigilant. I retired to Issaquah after safely flying jets for 25 years in the military, coached Little League, soccer and basketball, and am active in Boy Scouting here, but this has left a bad taste in my mouth for my dear home city of 12 years.

I give to Issaquah charities, volunteer at Salmon Days, donate to Village Theatre, and give hundreds of pounds of fruits and vegetables to the Issaquah Food Bank every year.

I will be donating $160 less this year to make up for this, and it bothers me. I might be doing more shopping in Sammamish now. I don’t recall any cameras up that way, and maybe they have a food bank.

My suggestions?

When children are present, have the camera on; when they are not present, have it off.

Since the camera cannot give immediate feedback, start fines at, say, $20 and have them increase for repeat offenders. To fine $125 for a first-time offense, and then give no feedback to prevent future immediate occurrences is silly and shortsighted.

Steve Sheehan

Issaquah

Klahanie Park

It’s time for the city of Sammamish to pull back its oft-bitten hand

The question by those groups trying to “save” the Klahanie Park of “Why didn’t the city of Sammamish offer to take the entire Klahanie PAA (or just Klahanie) as well?” shows ignorance on this whole subject.

Those seeking to form the city of Sammamish approached Klahanie about joining the new city. I know because I was there for the discussions at the association offices when Phil Dyer and others that felt Klahanie fit into the city’s character, made the offer. That offer was rejected by Klahanie.

Every opportunity since then to join the city of Sammamish has been rebuffed by Klahanie’s residents repeatedly with the claim “we identify with Issaquah more.” They even rejected joining Issaquah because they refused to pay their way.

I think it is time for Sammamish to pull back its bitten hand and stop offering any assistance to Klahanie. Good will and good intention only goes so far, especially when continually called names and accused of deceit. Let the park be closed and allow it to be blight their hubris community.

As well it is time for Sammamish to stop spending OUR tax dollars providing additional police services to Klahanie. It is time they live with their bad choices.

Michael T. Barr

Sammamish

Choice and Consequence

Traveling school program left out the dangers of texting while driving

I read a write up in the March 3 issue of The Issaquah Press about a visit to the Beaver Lake Middle School by Choice and Consequence, a nonprofit organization. It was a good article and I hope the information has an impact on the young people. It was about bad decisions concerning drugs, alcohol and tobacco, all part of the school’s Drug Alcohol and Tobacco Awareness week.

However, I am a bit disturbed that I saw no mention of the use of cell phones and texting while driving. I know that was not the focus, either of the week at Beaver Lake or the presentation by Choice and Consequence, but not mentioning these practices almost makes them seem acceptable.

I myself, walking my dog in and around Issaquah, have seen drivers on cell phones run red lights and crosswalks – once with a school bus stopped and the driver honking at the driver. I have also been forced out of my lane by a young lady texting while driving.

For all of us, bad choices can have deadly results. Those choices include drugs, alcohol and tobacco, but they also include driving while texting and talking on a cell phone. Information proves it’s worse than driving drunk. I personally have chosen not to use my cell while driving and not to talk to anyone who calls me while they’re driving. My car is a no-phone zone.

Lee Woods

Issaquah

Patty Murray

She has brought home important federal funds, supported the troops

I was amazed to read Chris Widener’s criticism of Sen. Patty Murray, as quoted in your last issue: “The only thing Patty has to run on is her ability to bring home money. That money that she gives us is our money.”

As the kids say: Well, duh. Just in the past few months, Murray has brought home $590 million for high speed rail in Washington state, $30 million to fix the “Mercer Mess” and $30 million to fix the Interstate 5 at North Spokane freeway mess. These are projects vital to the economic and social interests of the people of Washington.

Fixing the two Seattle juggernauts will speed freight mobility, creating an incentive for business to come to Washington state instead of, say, San Francisco or Portland. High speed rail will put us back in a competitive posture in relation to European and Asian nations.

Yes, indeed, that is our money, and Murray is ensuring that it’s working for us instead of going elsewhere. Isn’t that what representative democracy is about?

Murray has not only served our state’s needs well, she has often been the lone voice promoting safety and health care for our troops overseas and our veterans at home. I am very proud to support her re-election to the United States Senate.

Barbara de Michele

Issaquah

Cutting the service in half will probably create twice the problems

In reading last weeks article, “Trash changes could extend landfill’s life,” regarding the proposed new every-other-week-collection schedule; my initial reaction was I could live with twice-a-month collections if they would still provide weekly yard waste pickups.

Maybe some of the newer neighborhoods that don’t have yards or established trees could get by with twice-a-month yard waste collections, but my neighborhood can’t. Most weeks, my yard waste is full, because it takes regular work to keep nature in check.

However, after thinking about it, I wondered why if we have all done such a great job recycling that the garbage man can come half as often, shouldn’t my bill go down by half as well? They say the potential change is about saving the landfill, but actually the same amount will be going to the landfill every month, just in two loads rather than four.

We are not stupid. What they want is to reduce our service by half, but charge us as close to the same amount as now if they can.

Of course, if pushed, they will say they are doing this for “us,” and rattle off all of the threatened price increases they have planned. Costs are probably going up, but I, for one, would like to know what they really are.

Let the public hear the true plans they have for our garbage money, and involve us in this process. Maybe the problem is too much duplication in city and county staff endlessly noodling over garbage, and it is that redundancy that should be cut in half. Maybe solid waste in government is the problem. Can we please schedule a pick up?

C.A. Christensen

Issaquah

T-shirt fundraiser

Thank you for fine coverage; high fives for service-minded students

The Press gave fine, in-depth coverage with “Changing lives, one T-Shirt at a time” and the student project at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, with its project to benefit the schools in the Central Asia Institute. The additional background provided by Chantelle Lusebrink on the work of Greg Mortenson is important.

High fives to the many students at Pacific Cascade for their focus on service and one if not the most important lesson of all, in working with community locally to serve a higher purpose and common good.

Mortenson’s latest book, “Stones Into Schools,” demonstrates the effectiveness of outreach across the world with “Pennies for Peace” and projects such as the T-shirts!

Thanks Issaquah Press, and way to go Pacific Cascade!

Rosemary Fahey

Issaquah

Squak Valley Park

A rock-climbing wall would benefit many

Please consider constructing a rock-climbing structure at the new park on Issaquah-Hobart Road. It’s the perfect place, looking straight at Tiger Mountain, and Issaquah is at the base of the Cascades.

No. 1 — It would honor the rich history of mountaineers from our state — Jim Wickwire, Peter Whittaker, Kit Lewis, John Roskelley — and from Issaquah — Jim Nelson — all have made considerable contributions to world mountains.

No. 2 — It’s great and fun exercise.

No. 3 — It’s something positive for teenagers to do with their time.

No. 4 — It’s something to have parents do while watching their kids.

Marymoor Park has one, as does North Bend.

Mike Preiss

Hobart

Soda tax

Proposal could force 25 percent reduction in nearby bottling workforce

The Coca Cola Bottlers of Washington, which started in 1905, is home to more than 1,050 hard-working employees, many of whom have been with the company for a very long time. But if the governor’s proposed excise tax on carbonated beverages and bottled water becomes law, we may be forced to eliminate as many as 25 percent of those good-paying jobs.

Our nearby facility in Bellevue is the largest bottler and only Coca Cola production facility in the state. Like other companies, however, the recession has not been kind to us. We had to cut our workforce by 10 percent in late 2008. An excise tax will only worsen this situation.

Our company, like many bottlers across Washington, already operates on a razor-thin margin in a highly competitive marketplace and this severely restrains our ability to absorb higher taxes.

Raising our prices to cover these punitive taxes will only further depress our sales, and the effect will be felt throughout the entire local supply chain — grocers, restaurant owners, deliverers, convenience stores. A lot of people right here in Issaquah might soon have some tough choices to make.

Our products are very price sensitive. In general, for every 1 percent the price goes up, we lose 1 percent in sales. The governor’s proposal would increase the retail price of many of our soft drinks by 25 percent to 30 percent and a case of water by more than 100 percent.

The Coca Cola Bottlers of Washington are not alone. It’s the same situation for the other bottlers who collectively employ nearly 3,000 workers statewide in good-paying jobs with generous benefits, and indirectly support another 17,000 workers.

We know these are difficult times. We just hope our legislators consider ways to raise funds that don’t unfairly target individual industries, but rather preserve jobs and promote growth in the private sector.

Bob Slack, vice president

Coca Cola Bottlers of Washington

Pledge of Allegiance

When are protestors going to target reference to God in the Constitution?

It seems that every week I sit down to read The Press and discover another installment in the ongoing saga of “Pledge Wars.” I am over 70, learned the pledge before the controversial two words “under God” were added and admit that at first, I sometimes forgot to include the new phrase.

The flag and pledge may have always been more meaningful to me than many, due to the era in which I was raised and the fact that my father was MIA in 1944. In any case, those opposed to its use in present form and citing the Constitution have apparently never read this document in its entirety, as at the very end it is dated along with the words “In the Year of Our Lord.” This phrase, obviously, does not refer to King George or the Emperor of Rome but to Jesus Christ, which is a far more specific reference to a particular religion than “under God.”

So, in the interest of consistency and logic, I will be anxiously awaiting equally enthusiastic protests regarding the posting of the entire Constitution and its reading in any public forum, or maybe it would be much more reasonable to just select another windmill.

Ronald Olson

Issaquah

There is no one-size-fits-all way to teach

While some people might shake their heads at all the controversy over the choice of math textbooks in our schools, the controversy isn’t new, nor is it surprising. Math is and has always been a challenging subject to teach and to learn. In the late 1960s, I chose to teach it.

Two math teaching approaches came into vogue during this post-Sputnik era. One was the new math, which had instructors teach math using an abstract concept called set theory, which many school teachers had trouble understanding themselves. The other was guided discovery, which proposed that students were more likely to remember concepts they discovered on their own instead of memorizing a rule they were likely to forget.

I can still recall the first time I used the discovery method to teach my high school algebra students how to divide fractional expressions. After spending what seemed like an inordinate amount of time guiding the students to the correct solution, I heard a voice from the back of the room shout out, “Tell us the rule. What is the rule?”

That year, I learned that guided discovery worked for some, but not all of my students. Being a pragmatist at heart, I taught using the textbook’s guided discovery approach, but whenever a student in the class didn’t get it, I’d reteach the topic using a traditional approach or whatever else worked.

New math was abandoned by the end of the 1960s, and guided discovery has come in and out of use ever since it was first introduced. Although I don’t know the best way to teach math or whether a single approach would work for all students, I do know that each time a school district changes its math curriculum and math textbooks, it puts an incredible burden on its faculty. The change requires teachers to teach out of new math textbooks using new approaches they have barely mastered themselves. And the students are caught in the middle.

Shelly Hawkins

Issaquah

Pledge of Allegiance

Stating ‘under God’ at government function violates separation clause

Isn’t it ironic a recent letter writer assumes that Michael Barr is an atheist, simply because he believes in the separation of church and state? As someone that has known him for more than 20 years, I can assure you he is not an atheist. He simply doesn’t feel it necessary for anyone to force their religious beliefs on others.

Lynn Stuter completely misses the point of Barr’s letter — that we all have a right to exercise our beliefs as we choose, so long as we don’t impact others who may have different views. The Pledge of Allegiance, with its reference to “under God,” does not show tolerance for the views of all Americans, and when recited at government and school functions, contradicts the notion of separation of church and state.

Like it or not, our country is a collection of many different cultures and religions. If we are truly going to be tolerant and accepting, let’s be tolerant and accepting of all, not just those we understand or agree with.

Darryl S. Hamilton

Sammamish

All religion needs to be out of governing

I am not an atheist, so why then do I support the removal of “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance? Because I do not want my government driven by religious beliefs, especially if it represents the majority of the people (mob rule), and I do not want my religion polluted with the corruption of politics.

We see the results of religious fundamentalism, such as the Taliban, Islamic terrorists, evangelicalism (killing doctors to stop legal medical procedures) and thousands of years of Catholic Church rule as a governing body. While democracy allows all religions to flourish, religions do not allow freedom to flourish. Our founding fathers understood that so clearly, that they rightly put a wall between the two.

Protestant Christianity is losing its place as the majority. Soon, Catholicism will overtake it, and then other religions. Will those in the majority now then be happy to sit by quietly as the good behaving minority as other’s beliefs are forced upon you? I sincerely doubt it.

That is why I support keeping all religion out of government and government out of religions, and so should any other religious person. This approach truly supports free will and freedom at the same time and that is the whole point of our great country’s system.

Michael T. Barr

Sammamish

Triple X car shows

Come support these events that are true, community gatherings

The car show season has started even though the weather isn’t cooperating and the Spring Opener isn’t until Sunday, May 16, 2010. The Triple X Rootbeer Drive-In brings many visitors to Issaquah, and as the weather improves there will be more and more car aficionados showing up for the scheduled Sunday shows.

In addition to the Sunday events, car builders and owners show up on Saturday evenings to eat, visit and display their “works in progress.” It’s a more informal gathering with a wide variety of marquees showing up and quite often a better opportunity for conversations between owners.

The Triple X car shows are truly community events, since the Triple X itself and the neighbors along East Gilman Boulevard support the events, Sunset Highway Cruisers (a local car club) set up and clean up for each event, and the profits from every scheduled event benefit the local charity Life Enrichment Options.

I encourage everyone to support these events. Pick up a schedule (available at the Triple X) and visit a car show of your choice. Show up for the car shows, ogle the beautiful vehicles, do some people watching and enjoy the food.

Lee Woods

Issaquah

Thank you for a story that shared the little-told stories of the residentsThank you for the story “A night of ‘houselessness’” in the Feb. 3 paper. It was by far the best article I have read about Tent City. Giving the resident’s faces and telling their stories has to ease any concerns community members could have about hosting a Tent City in their neighborhood. With today’s economy, any one of us could be moving into tent city tomorrow.

It is great that Chantelle Lusebrink and Warren Kagarise spent the night and could share with us their very real experiences with volunteer servers and trying to stay warm while sleeping. Next week, will you be giving suggestions on how we can support residents in addition to bringing meals? Do they need more blankets, air mattresses, white socks or what?

Thank you!

Susan Evans

Issaquah

Issaquah Highlands

Plans for village on the hill wasn’t integrated into old growth preservation

I read this week’s Issaquah Press articles about Issaquah Highlands and came away with an idea I didn’t totally expect.

The Issaquah Highlands development was conceived at a time when the Growth Management Act caused communities to plan for significant growth and Issaquah just wanted to “preserve that old town charm.” The answer was an urban village on the hill — a sort of standalone little community that would have easy access to Interstate 90 and wouldn’t cause the valley floor to change its character in undesirable ways.

From the developer’s perspective, the urban village was a dream come true. They could control everything and create the perfect little community where the “live, work, play” vision could actually happen. But they learned you can’t have work places if you have no workers and nobody wants to open a store if there are not enough customers.

And, let’s not forget Microsoft playing Redmond against Issaquah to meet their needs for more office space. But, there were lots of folks who needed to live somewhere and so the residential development took off. Issaquah has more than met its growth targets for years into the future.

The problem is that old town Issaquah didn’t plan to integrate its growth as part of the “special place where people care” and Issaquah Highlands always planned to stand alone on the hill. It’s an “us” and “them” thing when what is missing is the “we.”

Hank Thomas

Issaquah

School levies

Successful ballot issues were result of important community partnerships

On behalf of the Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, I would like to thank the community for the approval of all of our school levies. The students will directly benefit from your investment. The success of our campaign was based on a community wide effort to get out the vote and educate the community on the needs of our school district. The strategic partnerships between VIS, PTA, Teacher’s Union, senior citizens and the Chamber of Commerce were critical to the outcome.

VIS could not have run the campaign without the vast number of volunteers that contributed numerous hours on behalf of our students. Our thanks to all who contributed to our accomplishment; we are grateful for your support. It was rewarding to have the community validate the efforts with a clear message that they value our schools and are willing to support the next generation.

Alison Meryweather, Kelly Munn and Floyd Rogers

Volunteers for Issaquah co-chairs

Math books

Adoption process involves community and school board, not courts

I was dismayed at the ruling of King County Superior Court Judge Julie K. Spector which labeled the Seattle School Board’s math text book adoption as arbitrary and capricious, and ordered the school board to reconsider its decision.

It is the statutory responsibility of the local school board, and not the courts, the state Board of Education, or the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to decide which textbooks are appropriate for the schools in its community. The process for recommending instructional materials is prescribed in law and requires the involvement of an Instructional Materials Committee and the opportunity for parents to offer their opinions, a process that could hardly be called arbitrary and capricious.

Choosing textbooks in mathematics is complicated business. Local school boards must consider many factors: the ability of the instructional materials to address the standards and grade level expectations as set forth by the state of Washington; the ability of the text book to ensure that all students have a balanced and rigorous mathematics experience, the availability of supplementary materials to reach all learners, alignment with materials used in other grade spans, their cost and the reliability of the publisher to fulfill its contract with the district. To add to the complexity, significant disagreements on approaches to teaching math exist among math educators, academicians and those using math on a daily basis in their careers.

It is very difficult to find appropriate materials to match our Washington state standards without the use of supplementary materials. Washington represents a very small portion of the national text book market. I have hope, however, that in the future this matching of standards and text books will be easier. Our state has joined 49 other states in signing a memorandum of understanding to establish common core standards for math and English language arts.

This common core should attract more text book companies to provide instructional materials aligned with state and national standards, which are mathematically sound and can address the diverse learning styles and needs of students. These choices will provide local school boards more options to choose from as they meet their statutory obligation to make the best decisions on behalf of the children in their communities.

Connie Fletcher

Issaquah member of the state Board of Education

Pledge of Allegiance

With the way education is taught today, reaction to the pledge is no surprise

I am proud of America and the Pledge of Allegiance as well as supporting Lynn Stuter comments in the Feb. 10 Press issue. I am thankful for those that do support the American flag and the associated pledge that is recited in the presence of the Old Glory.

If one takes the Pledge seriously, at each occasion where it is repeated, then they will have an interest in what is happening to America today. As an 81-year-old proud American, I have seen all kinds of people that do things today that were not tolerated years ago.

We had desks in school where we kept all our books, etc., and did not need to lock anything up. No homework, so the backbreaking back packs were not needed, the nonunion teachers were getting the message across! In fact, with this type of education I worked as a lead engineer on the engine systems design of S-1C first stage for the Saturn/Apollo moon rocket in New Orleans that put those guys on the moon. Now this administration has changed NASA from going into space to staying on the ground!

There were seven rows of six desks in my classes, that is 42 in a class, folks. We did all our own work at the desk or chalk board. Now they have the eight kids around a common table, doing what? American history was a requirement to graduate. We did not need to lock up our house when we left home. When we parked the car it was never locked, even downtown. We also recited the pledge each day of school, and prayers were allowed in school as well as at school functions. The school principal gave a prayer during the Dec. 8, 1941, school assembly to listen to the speech on the radio by President Roosevelt.

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

Thank you for showing a glimpse of the lives of real people and their difficulties

I cannot thank you enough for your excellent articles on the presence of Tent City 4 in Issaquah.

Your portrayal of the real people who make up that community, the difficulties they face and the enormous effort it takes to overcome “houselessness” in today’s collapsing economy goes a long way to overcome the prejudice and ignorance that comprises much of the public speech these days about our sisters and brothers on the streets.

As one of many who were privileged to help move our new neighbors in, I saw a glimpse of how much work it takes to survive in the wet, cold and limited privacy of a tent community. We’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few of the residents so far in our weekly Thursday lunch at the Community Hall, and invite any of our neighbors, housed or not, to join us at the table (from noon – 1 p.m.) to get to know some of the Tent City folks.

May their stories give us the strength and courage to organize ourselves to provide safe, healthy, warm housing for all.

Wes Howard-Brook

Issaquah

Klahanie Park

If city of Issaquah doesn’t have the money for upkeep, let Sammamish have it

I have been reading the articles and watching the City Council meetings about the annexation of Klahanie Park.

Having heard each department head for Issaquah describe the painful budget cuts for 2010, plus staff cuts, I do not understand how Issaquah could possibly afford the maintenance of this large, complex park. We aren’t getting streets repaired, we have little staff to maintain our current open space (one person is responsible for all and works like crazy, but it is a job for about six full-time people), and all of us are paying increased water rates to even support our water fund. We simply cannot afford Klahanie Park.

The county has no money for Klahanie Park.

Sammamish wants Klahanie Park!

Clearly, Klahanie residents have a large historic investment in this park. It is unreasonable that after all of their years of care and feeding, they could be cut off from the park they have nurtured. Maybe the best place for concerned Klahanie residents to place their energies is in getting representation within Sammamish for Klahanie Park.

Frankly, the city of Sammamish should step up and offer a Klahanie Park Board that has veto power, populated with one-half Klahanie residents in the interlocal maintenance agreement that is currently being created. (Or some other idea that gives Klahanie residents a large measure of control.)

Imagine Klahanie residents actively wanting their park to be a part of Sammamish because they know, in advance, that they are being treated with respect and given a large say. Is Sammamish that smart?

Connie Marsh

Issaquah

Pledge of Allegiance

A government function remains an inappropriate location for pledge

A recent writer acknowledges that since we are such a diverse culture in the U.S. that we can offend others with our differences, yet his solution is to dismiss those in the minority, telling them to politely sit by quietly when offended.

We are all free to believe and exercise our beliefs as we choose. Cite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, pray at your church or in your home, acknowledge your god in your daily life, but just don’t do it at a public, government function where others not sharing your view are forced to be involved in it.

This is not about the rights of the majority being trampled, and this argument is an offensive ruse deflecting from the group whose rights are really being trampled by mob rule.

We had this discussion in March 2007, too. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. When will the City Council and school board become effective government and break this cycle by dropping the Pledge of Allegiance?

Michael T. Barr

Sammamish

First Amendment protects everyone to worship as they please, not just atheists

It always amazes me when people like Michael Barr complain about the Pledge of Allegiance. While Barr, an atheist, shows no tolerance for other religions, that he wrote the comment he did shows he firmly believes others should show tolerance of his religion.

That he expects other religions to be tolerant of his religion, while he shows no tolerance for other religions, is mindful of Germany under Hitler, when the slaughtering of millions was justified because of their religious beliefs.

Barr needs to remember that the First Amendment not only grants him the right to worship as he chooses, but others also. If he doesn’t like that, there are countries where such tolerance isn’t observed. No doubt he won’t like the reality of those countries either.

Lynn M. Stuter

Nine Mile Falls

Volunteers, voters have helped make school proposals successful in the past

The Issaquah School District has been blessed by the support of volunteers and voters in the past many years. Their actions have translated into creating a school district that has been recognized for excellence in student achievement, and I know that as a community, we want to continue to demonstrate that excellence.Volunteers play a wonderful role in gathering support for our schools and have helped immensely in historically successful ballot measure passage in our district. We are very thankful for that support.

But in the end, it really comes down to each voter, acting individually, exercising his or her right and responsibility to vote. Each vote to support these measures sends a positive message to all of our students. Each yes vote helps maintain their pursuit of education and will provide future opportunities for increased academic achievement.

I urge every voter to fill out their ballot, mail it back by Feb. 9, and do his or her individual part to support our students. Vote yes for schools!

Jan Woldseth Colbrese

Issaquah School Board member

Voters deserve an effort on school district’s part to get issues in pamphlet

Having received my King County Voters’ pamphlet for the Feb. 9 special election for ZIP code 98075, I was surprised to find that the Issaquah School District proposal was not published. I immediately called King County Elections and was told that “Issaquah opted out” of the pamphlet.

What is going on? Is there no transparency in the district and school board? Are they trying to hide something, or are they worried that knowledge of the proposition would scare people?

I have lived in Sammamish (formerly Issaquah) for 31 years, and have voted for every levy in the past. Both of my children attended Issaquah schools, and got a good education. It seems to me that the district owes it to the taxpayers who support them to explain their needs and wants in the Voters’ Pamphlet, so we can make an educated and informed decision.

David Doyle

Sammamish

Pledge of Allegiance

Those who love their country have no problem reaffirming that dedication

Those of us who love our country, and are grateful to have had the privilege of growing up in the “land of the free,” are happy to renew the oath of loyalty to our flag and to the United States of America each time we have the opportunity to do so.

For us, and for many like-minded fellow citizens, this is not an “exercise” nor is it something we repeat by “rote.” It is a beautiful poem that is said proudly, as we consider what the words of the Pledge of Allegiance mean to us.

As we look back on our 230-plus years of history, we remember the women and men who made so many different kinds of sacrifices so that we are still able to live free. We owe them, at least, the respect that we pay when we say the pledge.

What is offensive to some people presents others of us with an opportunity to celebrate our great heritage.

Bill and Mary Godejohn

Issaquah

Watershed project

Where was the public comment portion?

An envelope was recently delivered to our mailbox from the Watershed Co. I nearly threw it in the trash, thinking it was junk mail.

Within the first paragraph, the city’s interest and concern for the well being of the people who live north of the proposed Squak Valley North project is clear. “The city has contracted with The Watershed Co. to prepare the design for the restoration project scheduled for construction this summer.”

To my knowledge, not one public meeting has ever been held on this project. Scuttlebutt said a meeting was to be held Jan. 21. Sycamore residents received notices, though we received none.

Squak Valley Park North is about a mile south of Front Street and Sunset Way. The plan is to breach the 1930’s-era levee at least four times to create salmon habitat. The city has purchased some property on the Sycamore side of Issaquah Creek and its intention is to “bench” the corner.

Further, logs are to be placed in the creek for salmon habitat. That habitat is called a dam by the person standing in water.

The topography of this field has a bottleneck at the north end. Front Street South is its eastern border with Issaquah Creek on the west. The whole property slopes to the north. The letter indicated that this project would protect the fish, homes in Sycamore and the street. Potential flooding created by the additional water flow the breached levee will cause isn’t of any concern to anyone except those of us who will end up hip deep in water.

I have been a fisher all my life and strongly support preserving habitat where it can be done, but where does the line get drawn between the importance of a fish and the importance of a home?

During the meeting, when pushed, city Surface Water Manager Kerry Ritland’s comment was that it was a habitat restoration project, not a flood control project. The fact that the project could lead to devastation for our area seems to be immaterial.

Is there anyone on the city staff who gives a damn?

Linda Hjelm

Issaquah

Global warming

Are shrinking businesses part of plan to reduce city’s carbon footprint?

With the number of empty store buildings and vacant lots along Front Street, it appears that Issaquah may be doing its share in reducing locations that may have been generating some of those so-called “greenhouse gases.” The loss of the large trees at Gilman Boulevard and Front Street could be the result of the loss of sufficient CO2 to keep them alive. However, the area where they have been removed seems to create an enjoyable, wide-open area.

In addition, the traffic signals control need some attention. Has anyone wondered why they are sitting at a red light and there are no cars moving through the intersection at all in any direction? Where is that so-called control to keep traffic moving and thus reduce the CO2 footprint?

I wonder where the balance between the economics and the so-called damage by the CO2 carbon footprint will lead us. The makeup of the “greenhouse gases” is as follows and gases are ranked by their contribution to the greenhouse effect. The most important are:

4water vapor, which contributes 36 percent to 72 percent

4carbon dioxide, which contributes 9 percent to 26 percent

4methane, which contributes 4 percent to 9 percent

4ozone, which contributes 3 percent to 7 percent

It would appear that CO2 at 9 percent can be of little global warming impact, while water vapor can be 72 percent. If the CO2 was reduced to zero, what would happen to plant life? Plant life uses CO2 as part of its being, is part of the overall life plan for us humans. What would happen to our food supply and house building materials, etc?

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

Vote yes to provide an essential safety net in these troubled economic timesIn the Feb. 9 elections, the Issaquah School District is asking for voter approval on three local levy measures — maintenance and operations, capital and technology, and the school bus levy. I encourage you to vote yes on all three levies.

The state budget deficit crisis has become severe; in fact, the state treasurer said the state will be “cash broke” by September. During this legislative session, it is very likely additional nonbasic-education funding to our K-12 schools will be again significantly cut. The final mix of spending cuts and possible tax increases is unknown at this time.

Approving these local school support levies will provide an essential safety net in these challenging economic circumstances regardless of what the economy does (or doesn’t do) or how the state budget deficit is finally addressed.

Given the current economic uncertainty, the proposed Issaquah School District levies are conservative and sensitive to the realities of needing to make every dollar count. The maintenance and operations levy accounts for 20 percent of the district’s operating budget. The district is only asking voters to renew the levies at the existing level of support.

The Issaquah School District is one of the best performing school districts in the state for the money invested, an investment that gives our children their future. An excellent, well-funded school district provides significant benefits to our community. Our children are prepared for the competitive future that awaits them and our real estate property values hold their worth in turbulent times.

Your yes vote will make a big difference when it really matters, when our kids’ education future really is on the line.

Glenn Anderson, state representative

5th Legislative District

A yes vote will ensure schools provide same level of educational excellence

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, you will have an opportunity to support your kids and your community by casting a vote to renew the Issaquah School District operations and maintenance, transportation and technology levies. Each of these three levies was previously authorized and are now set to expire.

A vote to continue these levies will ensure that our schools will be able to provide the same level of educational excellence they have come to be known for.

The maintenance and operations levy, for instance, pays for roughly 21 percent of the district’s operating budget. This funding ensures that class sizes remain reasonable, specialized studies such as foreign languages can continue to be taught, and that critical personnel like school librarians will continue to help our students prepare for a productive adulthood.

Did you know that out of 296 school districts in Washington, Issaquah ranks 268th in overall state funding per pupil? The district clearly provides great value for our tax dollar, and that is reflected in the quality of the education provided to our students, as well as the value added to the community.

These are difficult economic times, and public money must be spent wisely. The fiscal prudence of the Issaquah School District is shown by the very high bond rating it has been able to maintain.

Renewing these levies will not increase your taxes, but it will maintain the value our schools provide to the community. Please join me in voting yes to renew the Issaquah School District levies.

John Rittenhouse

Issaquah

Pledge of Allegiance

The minority cannot be allowed to dictate how public conducts meetings

The greatest worldly gift to humankind has been citizenship in these United States. It is to be revered and honored. Our founders were visionaries who made provision for most every event in our society, with the exceptions of unforseeable evolutions in international relationships and technologic advances.

Explicit was the freedom of speech, assembly and religion. Nowhere were provisions made for wealth, contentment or freedom from bruised sensibilities. And no amendment prohibits the use of the word “God” in any forum.

This is all to say individuality and even dissent are welcome. There are those prickly personalities, such as Michael Newdow, et al, that take these freedoms to their extreme limits by making selfish, costly and boorish demands of society based upon their inability to understand there are no guarantees preventing one’s feelings from being hurt.

It is baffling to me that one could attend a public forum with the express intent of telling those conducting and otherwise participating that there is one way — and only one way — that is to be conducted. And that way represents the minority who find they cannot abide others traditions and/or beliefs. Too often, our society coddles the disenchanted and spiteful by eliminating traditions and even values. Maybe World War I and World War II taught us that we as a nation are reliant on God in troubling times.

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to this nation — not a god or God — has not to any recollection been forced upon anyone. I, for example, can enthusiastically recite the pledge although I do not find myself in agreement with many of the current national policies. Should I demand the pledge is publicly appropriate and only apply when I, me, am in complete contentment?

If one doesn’t believe God had a hand in developing and guiding this nation, then one shouldn’t feel compelled to honor him in the pledge. Respect the freedom of others to do so.

Mark L. Bowers

Issaquah

Despite treatment of atheists, support for ban remains strong

Am I surprised that neither the Issaquah School Board nor the Issaquah City Council removed the 1954 “under God” version of the Pledge of Allegiance from their meetings? Of course not. I knew I had a snowball’s chance in hell (figuratively speaking).

That’s because atheists are the group that religious Americans love to hate the most. Fifty three percent of Americans would not vote for an atheist to be president (2007, Gallup). Fifty seven percent think atheists can’t be moral (2007, Pew). They’re the “most distrusted minority” (2006, University of Minnesota). Bigotry against atheist Americans is alive and well.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see support from other community members. Of the dozens of comments on The Press’ Web site, many backed the pledge’s removal. Of nine published letter writers, four (including me) supported eliminating the pledge. A respectable 44 percent. They say that every letter represents the opinion of many, so we can assume that dozens, perhaps hundreds, in Issaquah want the “under God” version of the pledge removed. This is encouraging and bodes well.

Given that there is clearly some support among the community for removing the pledge, it was disappointing that the two governing bodies gave short shrift to the issue. The school board, led by Suzanne Weaver, didn’t even have the courtesy to provide a response. (After all, why waste their time on those uppity atheists?)

And here’s the response from Mayor Ava Frisinger: “The order of business for council meetings, which has the pledge immediately following the call to order, remains unchanged.” One sentence describing her decision. That’s it. No explanation.

According to the city’s anti-discrimination resolution, the city “prides itself in doing its best to treat all individuals with dignity and respect.” But no one can conclude that the city is doing its best to treat atheists with dignity and respect by asking them to stand and contradict their beliefs. Apparently, it’s easier for officials to sign a resolution than it is to enforce and abide by it, especially when it comes to a minority group that they really don’t like.

So, yes, things will “remain unchanged.” For now.

Matthew J. Barry

Issaquah

Thank you to everyone who contributed and for helping people in need

We at Issaquah Church & Community Services extend our deep gratitude to all of the big-hearted people of Issaquah who donated to the Merry Christmas Fund 2009, and to Debbie Berto, publisher of The Press, whose passion, spirit and tireless efforts on behalf of those among us who have fallen on financial hard times — thank you!

Our 25-year-old nonprofit agency saw a 50 percent increase in need in 2009 and your gifts were appreciated more than ever. We at ICCS are a dedicated group of volunteers who serve each weekday, answering phones and meeting with those seeking assistance and you are our partners. Together, we serve the people of Issaquah — our friends and neighbors.

If you are reading this and finding yourself coming up short because financial hardship has struck your family — please call us at 391-0137. All we ask of our clients is to pass it on when you are able.

Again, thank you all for showing the world that we in Issaquah are a generous, compassionate people.

Marilyn Taylor, president

Issaquah Church & Community Services

School levies

Vote yes to renew vital funding for programs to keep schools outstanding

As a 30-plus year parent and teacher in the Issaquah School District, I believe that one of the main factors that contribute to our quality of life is our outstanding school system. In order to continue providing our children with the best education we can, I urge you to vote yes for the three school levies on the Feb. 9 ballot.

These levies would replace the current levies that will soon expire. If passed, the average homeowner would pay the same or fewer tax dollars as they currently pay.

These levies are absolutely vital to maintain quality education for our children. Levy 1, maintenance and operations, provides almost 20 percent of the total district budget and these dollars go for basic necessities, such as special-education services, teachers, support staff and utilities. Levy 2, the school bus levy, will provide for the purchase of 41 new buses, which will run cleaner and more efficiently than the older buses they replace. Levy 3, the capital levy, will provide for needed structural repairs and also for educational technology.

The Legislature cut education funding last year and in light of the current revenue forecast, will probably do so again this year. Levies are the one funding mechanism that enables the local community to directly invest in the quality of its schools to offset the lack of funding from the state level. So please, vote yes on all three levies on the Feb. 9 ballot.

Neva Luke

President, Issaquah Education Association

All three levies are crucial to keeping Issaquah’s top-quality education

We all love the Issaquah community we live in. We are proud of our community and of the education the Issaquah School District provides our community and our children. Our district does an amazing job of providing a top quality education on a limited budget.

Education funding continues to take tough financial hits. We, the voters, have the power within our hands to make sure on Feb. 9 that our three levies do not take a financial hit and all three of these levies pass. Every one of these three levies (operation and maintenance, transportation and technology) is crucial to maintaining our top-quality education!

I was a member of the levy development committee and saw what basics these levies are going toward maintaining. It would be devastating if these levies did not pass. For example, the maintenance and operation levy pays for approximately 21 percent of the district’s operating budget. Can you imagine the complete havoc our district would be in if they had to reduce their budget by more than 20 percent? It is imperative that we all vote yes for these three levies and encourage everyone we know to mail in their ballots with yes votes.

Jody R. Mull

President, Issaquah Schools Foundation

Pledge of Allegiance

Criticism of supporters was rife with false strawmen arguments

I am so thankful The Press printed Matthew Barry’s letter. The only thing that he stated that was true was that “those that don’t want to recite the pledge at school board meetings can remain silent or skip the meetings.” He attacked two letter writers, me and Carol Stair, while there was a third letter by Barbara Extract, supporting the pledge as is, in the Dec. 31, 2009, issue. Why not go after all three?

Barry has put up a number of strawmen in his Jan. 6 letter addressing:

(1) “under Allah” as being part of the pledge, when this country was established via the Declaration of Independence — “We hold these truths….endowed by their creator.”

(2) “Reverting to a 1954 pledge version,” would Barry also want to revert before Dec 6., 1865, or Aug. 18, 1920, when the 13th and 19th amendments were ratified? You cannot have it both ways.

(3) “Ken’s age” — my folks could not provide me and my brother with any money to spend, so I don’t know what was on the currency.

(4) “Racist country” — I don’t know what this has to do with the school board reciting the pledge.

(5) “Atheists” — That word does not appear anywhere in my letter.

(6)”Enforcing their beliefs” — The U.S. Congress and school classrooms recite the pledge at the start of each day’s session, so restricting it from a school board meeting, due to one person’s request to eliminate it, is not the American Way. Majority rules, the school board members were elected by a majority vote.

(7) “Eating meat” — What does this have to do with reciting the pledge at the school board meeting?

It appears Barry is attacking these two letter writers in trying to justify his agenda.

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

Klahanie Park

Community’s best interests are not being represented in ownership fight

I am writing as a 17-year resident of Klahanie. I want to comment on the Klahanie Park proposal.

I have two daughters and a dog, and I feel so lucky to have raised my family in this community. But I feel the best interests of the community are not being represented by the continued fight to keep control of the King County/Klahanie Park.

My daughters both play soccer and other sports and have been fortunate in the past few years to have the city of Sammamish’s vision to put all-purpose fields in both the Skyline and Eastlake parks. Without these fields, our teams would be limited to only the two high schools’ turf fields, and it would have been nearly impossible to get practice or games once the grass fields become unplayable and close for four months.

During this time, the city of Sammamish has done a great job of scheduling use of the fields and making sure we have lights when needed. I feel the best option for the many residents of Klahanie would be to have the county turn the fields over to Sammamish. I trust their vision and I know they would do a great job of maintaining the fields and giving the many residents of the plateau and Klahanie the best option for the future.

When I talk to my many neighbors, we all agree that this is the best proposal and feel that having Klahanie maintain control of the fields would not be in the best interest of residents and community. I hope we can work closely with Sammamish and make the transition to the city smooth and not take on a responsibility that is not in our best interests.

Brian Bofto

Issaquah

Close park before letting Sammamish take it over

I love parks. They are places to sit and reflect, walk, enjoy nature, run and play. I have voted for every park bond and levy that has ever been put before me on the ballot. I would willingly pay more in taxes to keep our parks open. Parks make up the heart and soul of our communities.

I would never have thought that I would be saying this, but I would rather have Klahanie Park shut down than to have King County give the park to the city of Sammamish. I have nothing against the city of Sammamish, but giving our park away to a city where we have no say in the future of the park is so egregious that I would rather have the park closed.

If the park is not transferred to Klahanie, it should be shut down and kept as unmaintained open space until the time that maintenance funds are available or Klahanie is annexed to either Sammamish or Issaquah.

Diane Weinstein

Klahanie

This unnecessary and offensive practice needs to be stoppedIgnoring that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at school board meetings is a blatant attempt at forced patriotic and religious indoctrination, we need to focus on the real question.

Why is the pledge being done at the meetings or even in the schools? These are not citizens joining the military taking an oath. These are free citizens attending a public meeting and this unnecessary and offensive practice needs to be stopped.

I feel sad for those who believe that forced, rote indoctrination through repetitive symbolic daily process is necessary for citizenship. This tactic is the same propaganda technique used by those handling the Hitler Youth.

This practice does not make a “good” citizen. It is just like the child who speeds through saying “grace” at dinner and really cares nothing about the spirit or meaning of the words and lacks understanding but instead focuses on accomplishing the task of stating the words to please the parents. These exercises need to be freely done to really mean anything.

Telling others to just sit there quietly, while this is forced on them at a public meeting is just plain rude, ignorant, insensitive behavior.

Michael T. Barr

Sammamish

Dave Kappler

Former councilman’s dedication helped protect, preserve environment

Your excellent story about Dave Kappler’s contributions to the city and region as a councilman, Issaquah Alps Trails Club member and citizen activist was well deserved.

I hope those new to the city who may not know Dave recognize that the forested hillsides, trails and thousands of acres of open space surrounding Issaquah didn’t just happen to be here by accident. It took intense, dedicated, long-term effort by Dave and others to protect and preserve the unique environment that surrounds and benefits all local residents. Dave has contributed for more than 30 years to achieving much of what may be taken for granted by many.

Thus, just as your story rightly paid tribute to Dave’s dedication and thousands of hours of public service both as a citizen and city official, I hope my fellow residents will also recognize and personally thank Dave for all that he has done to benefit all of us for so many years.

Ken Konigsmark

Issaquah

Don’t reinvent the wheel; learn from other cities’ mistakes — what has worked, what hasn’t. Many European cities are decades ahead of us with population, development, managing resources and transportation.

Michelle Kolano, Issaquah

Please, retain Issaquah’s character. Retain the small town, keep it green, make it the best it can be for the money.

Rick Fournier, Issaquah

Please, do not permit big-city urban planning to destroy our city. Tall buildings to accommodate a compressed population increase brings on traffic nightmares as well as social unrest. Read the Comprehensive Plan that has governed our city image through all these years we have relished living here. See therein: “Community Character – Issaquah is a growing city that is determined to retain the positive attributes and quality of life associated with a small town community.”

Irv Levin, Issaquah

Redevelopment should include pedestrian walkways, bike paths, greenbelts, parkways and malls; low-density, primarily residential, aesthetically consistent with Issaquah’s unique character, and restricting vehicular traffic.

Ray Extract, Issaquah

How do you feel about private funding being necessary for public education?

What are taxes if not private funding? But for additional fees to be charged for athletics and extracurricular activities, ridiculous. They should be incorporated into the taxes paid by all.

Jim Harris, Issaquah

Private funding could promote private agendas in public schools.

Don Burnett, Issaquah

Taxes are already taken from the working public to fund education. The goal should be being more efficient with what we have rather than taking more, whether by taxation or donation.

Paul Stewart, Issaquah

It is one of the biggest governmental swindles ever. Government should be focused on infrastructure, fire, safety and education. Bonds and having to ‘make up the difference’ is essentially dual taxation for the same services.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Schools need to get back to basics and not pie-in-the-sky educational programs. Basics are what raise test scores — not more money.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

This is too vague to answer, but we certainly need more funding than the state provides.

Fred Nystrom, Issaquah

Unfortunately, private funds are needed, but should be unnecessary; education should be a government priority.

Barbara Extract, Issaquah

What do you think is missing from our children’s education in public schools?

Physical discipline. Getting a few good swift canes across the backside in high school certainly helped to keep us in line. Bring it back and save money on all the self-esteem nonsense.

Paul Stewart, Issaquah

Revisionist American history has taken the place of applicable American history depicting the importance of the founders’ original intent. Unions, special interest groups and political correctness have no business in determining curriculum.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Accountability and performance.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

More instruction time, more classes per day and more hours during the year. Do we really need several months off in the summer? Darn few students have to bring in the crops nowadays.

Fred Nystrom, Issaquah