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.

An added benefit of Kristina’s class is that we’ve all become friends, socializing now and then at local coffee houses. I’m a fervent believer in coffee clutches. Time with lady friends is therapy for my soul.

Caring for mind, body and soul … three for the price of one … exercising with Kristina.

The dancer referred to in the article is my daughter, a professional ballerina with Nashville Ballet. Kristina’s classes, according to my daughter, are on par with those she takes as part of her job.

Millie Vierra

Issaquah

Government

Post office is critical to citizens, and not just for mail delivery

In our recent ice storm here in the Seattle area, it was evident that at least in Issaquah that the only ones on the street during that dangerous time were the police, emergency vehicles and mail carriers. No Fed Ex, no UPS, no Ontrac parcel carriers, no garbage trucks, no local or regional newspapers, no cellphone service, no phone land lines, no power.

I delivered critical medicine, including insulin, to numerous customers who were unable to leave their homes. People regarded me as a source of information as to the scope of power outages and road conditions and other news — there was no one else out there and no other way to receive information, and when asked, I directed people to the location of a warming shelter. To even get to work, I had to put chains on my 4-by-4 Toyota truck (made in the USA).

Our customers need this kind of service always, even on Saturdays. To cut our Saturday delivery, we would lose more money in income than we would save in expenses — this does not make sense.

I propose we expand to Sunday delivery, to deliver seven days a week. The market is wide open and I think wanted by the many 99 percenters out there working all week long to make ends meet.

We are a valuable and necessary part of this nation’s infrastructure and function as a nonprofit, pay-for-service organization. Without the unfair burden placed by Congress during the Bush administration to pre-fund worker’s health and retirement benefits 75 years in advance, which also makes the federal deficit appear smaller, we would have turned a profit in the worst economy since the Great Depression.

Julia Benson

Union city carrier for 32 years

First Amendment

People should be allowed to express all religious beliefs

I would like to echo Ms. Becky Wilder’s defense of Americans’ guaranteed right to freely express their religious beliefs in private or public places. How can anyone misinterpret freedom of religion as the government being responsible for squelching that very freedom? Well, only a spirited activist or PC revisionist could/would do that.

A dear friend once appropriately corrected my claim that it was solely (an omission on my part) Christian values our founders were defending. The reality is, our values are Judeo-Christian or essentially — biblical.

Let us not forget that without the funding by prominent Revolution-era American Jews Haym Solomon and Aaron Levy the United States would not have had a Continental army and we would not have gained our independence. Incidentally, the loans were never fully repaid.

Say “Judeo-Christian” when you speak of American values!

Mark Bowers

Issaquah

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.

My husband was one of the fortunate few whose Seattle company booked hotel rooms for its employees, ensuring that they’d report for work during the bad weather. Meanwhile, I considered myself lucky to be a retired housewife, safely ensconced in our home for the duration. That is until the power outage engulfed Issaquah.

No heat is like a death knell for a Hawaiian. We might be able to forgo sunshine, balmy breezes and sand beneath our Kanaka feet, but stick us in a freezer and we become totally unglued. All the civility foisted upon us by the missionaries is returned, unceremoniously. No “shaka” sign here.

As I recover from my own time in hell with no heat, I find it necessary to extend a “Mahalo nui loa” to all in our community who involved themselves in helping others. A neighbor who sought to help me start a wood-fire — a first. Successfully so, I might add. Another who left a message inviting me to bask in the warmth of their generator-heated home. Unfortunately, Comcast phone service was also kaput. But my neighbor’s offer still warmed my heart.

The “Neighbor to Neighbor” radio broadcast kept me company through the dark, frosty night. Calls from other listeners told of folks helping folks. Meanwhile power crews, the unsung heroes, were out risking life and limb to return us to comfort. Fire and police department personnel continued to secure our safety and provide other necessary services, alongside generous volunteers.

Where would we be without these guardian angels? I’d be up a creek —without a canoe and paddle.

Millie Vierra

Issaquah

Freedom of religion

It’s a shame so many don’t know the history that led to the First Amendment

I would like to answer this question about the Founding Fathers’ religion for Cheryl Lewis.

I am sad that most Americans do not know their own history, why people from England came to America, which was to avoid religious persecution. Also what the First Amendment is all about.

This country was founded on Christian principles as the signers are Christians of different denominations. What the founders did not want was for the government to choose one religion for all. What the Founding Fathers advocated was tolerance for different religions.

The First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing a religion or prohibiting individuals to practice their religion. Tolerance is the key word.

From Wikipedia:

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Go to this website for more information www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_ Religion.html.

Becky Wilder

Issaquah

Budget crisis

Let’s define basic education before funding

If you read Article IX, Education, of the State Constitution, the words “basic education” do not appear.

Now with the severe budget crisis that the state faces, I think it is time that “We The People” get together and come up with a definition of “basic education” that “we” can all agree on. The “we” I refer to would include parents, teachers, administrators, taxpayers, etc.

Once having a clear definition of the issue, then perhaps the Legislature can find ways to fund it. This idea may not please some special-interest groups demanding more funding for schools. However, defining the goal is the first step to achieving it.

Don Hindman

Issaquah

Some suggestions to help the governor draft a budget that works for all

Since the governor does not like her options in meeting the next $2 billion hole in the state budget, here are some options that should have been considered at the beginning of the recession:

1. Reduce the size of governmental agencies. Experience has shown that the more tax money we throw at governmental agencies the more inefficient and wasteful they become. The number of cellphones we provide to government employees and the number of unused or phones on high-cost plans is staggering — that is just the tip of the iceberg — good for the state auditor in uncovering this wastefulness. Why should I support more tax money given to bureaucrats who mismanage it?

2. Give the voters a line-item list of annual governmental costs, and we will tell the governor where to cut, and it will not be education, as long as the educators can guide the value of education and not the unions. Politicians scare us with threats of cuts to education, fire, police and the “vulnerable,” but hide or ignore all the wasteful spending. More taxes should not even be considered until we get a chance to vote on individual line items that need to be cut without hurting essential services.

3. Undo the giveaway on taxes that she gave to the gambling industry on the Indian reservations.

4. We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. The governor is not paying for the state’s excessive spending her first four years in office — actually, we, the people, are paying for it.

Larry Brickman

Bellevue

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

We are being held hostage by Puget Sound Energy

My power has been out since the 17th and you may think that this would be my complaint, but you would be wrong.

My issue is Puget Sound Energy’s reluctance to move a downed electrical pole from blocking our road. I live on Tiger Mountain and the public road is the only access my family and neighbors have to the main road below.

While it is possible to drive over wires (something they say you shouldn’t) and into the opposite lane to squeeze by it, it is not acceptable for others. As we try to clean and rebuild our neighborhood back from the storm, services like King County road maintenance, school buses, garbage trucks, tow trucks and even emergency vehicles will not be able to pass.

I don’t blame them. I do blame PSE, who I have pleaded with to simply move the pole off the road. The pole has sat precariously blocking the road since the 18th and since PSE isn’t listening maybe my local legislators will.

Public roads cannot be left blocked with only a single company in control; we need a better strategy then this.

James C. Papp

Issaquah

Trees are the problem in power outages

I sat by my fireplace burning wood for 33 hours and listening to my battery-powered radio. People that called in to relate their storm experiences seemed to address trees as being 99 percent of the problem for the power loss.

One man was killed by a falling tree in Issaquah. It should be noted that Issaquah city rules tend to discourage tree removal from one’s own property. If that tree had been removed, one life would have been saved. But some believe that saving trees is more important.

In fact, if all trees within 100 feet of power lines were trimmed down enough to miss the power lines if they fall over or were completely removed, three-quarters of a million people would not have been sitting in the dark.

Folks, there are plenty of trees away from the power lines and homes, to allow the tree huggers to do their thing.

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

Christmas

Column should have included more reporting, less opinion

The publishing of David Hayes’ “Off the Press” article was very disappointing to me and clearly demonstrated the difference between ranting and reporting. Mr. Hayes appears to be very upset about the principle regarding the separation of church and state in the United States. Reporting would have required Mr. Hayes to research the holdings of the courts or perhaps examine the impact the separation.

Mr. Hayes is very angry that public schools would not allow the singing of beautiful songs that celebrate the birth of Jesus, the “Newborn King.” He does not consider whether the public schools should equally allow the singing of other songs celebrating other religions.

I am not sure if he is just protective of his own personal religious beliefs or if he thinks that the public schools should support the religions of all its students or perhaps all of the citizens of the United States. Better yet, maybe public schools should sing songs celebrating the more than 9,000 religions on earth. Now that would be one long “holiday concert” and Mr. Hayes, maybe you should bring an extra battery for your recorder.

Mr. Hayes is free to sing his favorite songs in the shower, in his church, on the street and in a park. Mr. Hayes can construct a nativity scene in his yard, in front of his church and wherever else a private entity wants to allow three wise men.

A thoughtful consideration of the issue would have been worth reading. What Mr. Hayes wrote, unfortunately, was just a thoughtless rant and added nothing to the public discourse.

William Roberts

Issaquah

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

Keep Issaquah the way it is

Part of the allure of Issaquah is its small-town feel and the uncluttered view of the surrounding mountains. With 150-foot-tall buildings in the works, all of that will disappear. Do we really need buildings taller than four stories? With all of the unoccupied medical /commercial building space, town homes, single-story residences and apartments do we really need more?

Do we need to cut down more trees and create another view similar to Talus or the highlands? Do we really need to move a creek? (By the way, you can’t just move a creek whenever it doesn’t suit your needs.)

Hopefully it’s not too late for the council to rethink their approval plans for Rowley Development and the swarm of others to follow, and keep Issaquah the way it is and not let it become an eyesore like so many other towns.

Jeffrey Rowe

Issaquah

City staffing

Using selective information leads to erroneous conclusion

A letter from a former councilmember fails to connect the dots in the Moss Adams report with regard to city staffing. Nowhere in the report are the terms “redundancy” or “inefficiencies” used and nowhere does it indicate that city staff are providing “nothing of value” to the citizens.

This is an erroneous conclusion drawn by selectively picking information from the report and the Committee of the Whole presentation, further sensationalized by how the facts are presented. I believe, and I believe most citizens do as well, that city staff are very competent, dedicated to their jobs and provide a tremendous value to the community. Their loss will be the real tragedy.

In the end, among all of the findings, a key point in the report is the desire to implement a new way of doing business through privatization. Even if city revenues are lower, there will still be projects to fund and build and infrastructure always must be maintained. Someone has to design and manage the projects.

If done through privatization, past experience has shown this will cost the city more money in the long run and there will be less money available to put in/on the ground for actual construction.

And, from experience, even the best consulting firm won’t have the knowledge/background of the city nor the same level of care of the Issaquah community that city staff has.

Finally, in the end, there may be $1.5 million in staff cuts but there will not be $1.5 million saved. The proposed budget amendments show $1.5 million in cuts and $1.5 million in new expenses — no savings to the community.

Realize that these “pseudo-savings” will then be spent over time on other priorities, and on top of that there will be additional costs charged to capital projects to pay private consultants and there will still be a cost for project oversight by remaining city staff, just as there is today when a consultant is utilized for projects. And by the time this occurs experienced staff will be lost.

Bob Brock, Issaquah

Retired public works director for city

Gas

Debit charge moved to credit card

I thought I would try the rebuilt Arco facility across state Route 900 from the Holiday Inn. There is a new sign at the entryway to the pumps that indicate that they are no longer charging 45 cents to use debit cards, which is a nice improvement. However, they are charging 10 cents a gallon more to use your credit card, over paying cash.

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

Government

Shrinking should not require approval

We have been hearing for years that the president is growing government when he should be shrinking it. These complaints usually come from members of the Legislature that sit on the other side of the aisle from the president’s party. Now we learn that the president doesn’t have the authority to shrink the government without approval of the Legislature.

Wow! It is really hard to see through all that wool.

Hank Thomas

Issaquah

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?

As this once small town continues to grow, roads are not being widened, no center turn lanes to accommodate turning traffic, roundabouts that many do not know what a four-way yield means, but are spending money to accommodate bicyclists with paths, overpasses and trails that are barely used.

Will state Route 900 be widened to four lanes all the way to Renton; will Newport Way from 900 to Lakemont Boulevard be widened preferably with a center turn lane the entire length and a light installed at the Cougar Mountain Zoo turn? Has a budget been set aside for new fire trucks that have the capability to reach 150 feet?

On Tibbetts Creek, will the buildings be 110 feet from the creek’s edge? Water runoff — where will that go? Had all of these questions been addressed before the mayor and City Council jumped at the idea of making a few extra dollars to enlarge a once quaint town?

A town that continues to shoot down the Southeast Bypass road might want to also think about what kind of damage will happen on the other side of town if Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center are built.

Jacque Sorrell

Issaquah

Christmas

A time of year for all denominations to celebrate, not just Christians

What happened to religious tolerance in the United States? Christians need to be tolerated, too.

I feel sad this country is becoming like a fascist country, disallowing people of faith to celebrate publicly. Can we be who we are and let Christians celebrate whatever it is they want to display and greet people as Christians publicly?

Can we let other religions greet the way they greet in celebrating their holidays? Let the Jews say “Happy Hanukkah,” Muslims say “May Allah bless you” and Christians greet other people of faith or nonbelievers with “Merry Christmas!” without anyone being upset?

We are just greeting each other to be happy! Let each group be responsible for their own greetings and display.

I am a legal immigrant in this country and now an American. I have spoken to sales ladies in department stores who came from Russia and other countries; they were told they can’t say “Merry Christmas” like we used to because they have to be politically correct, and they told me they thought in America they could express their religious belief and say “Merry Christmas.”

Atheists or nonbelievers are just another group. Though they do not think they are, their purpose is to be recognized like a religious group. In some public places they have their own displays portraying Christianity as a myth. I believe this is derogatory, is a put down against Christians and bigotry against Christianity.

And they want Christians to confine the display of nativity scenes in private homes and churches? What is wrong in depicting a family — to Christians a holy family; non-Christians can interpret this as time for family, for loving our family and celebrating the joy of family. So what is the fuss?

Dec. 25, Christmas Day, was declared by the U.S. Congress as a federal holiday in 1870. Christmas is a holiday and we should be able to celebrate it as such, including greetings and displays in public places.

The meaning of tolerance: “a fair, objective and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.”

Becky Wilder

Issaquah

Joanna Buehler

Environmental advocate will be missed

Joanna Buehler has indeed heroically served her community, Lake Sammamish, and our local environment for years through her dedicated and selfless advocacy efforts. However, your story missed mentioning one key factor crucial to her many successes.

While equally steadfast and unyielding in her positions, Joanna is a polite version of a British “Iron Lady.” Even in difficult conflicts, her genteel, sophisticated, pragmatic demeanor allowed her to disagree without being disagreeable, to stand firm on facts and data, and to find resolution in the midst of conflict. As sadly illustrated by our own Congress, this trait is sorely lacking in public discussion and decision-making, yet when put into practice can lead to breakthroughs that benefit all.

Joanna is not only effective; she is a class act while doing so. The Issaquah community will greatly miss her.

In fact, now that I think about it, how about “Joanna for Congress?”

Ken Konigsmark

Issaquah

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

Christmas

Thank you for your column

Kudos to David Hayes for his Santa column and the true story of Christmas. Go, Tebow.

Don Shafer

Bellevue

Development

Kiss Issaquah goodbye

They say we cannot stand in the way of progress and I suppose the Issaquah City Council’s Central Issaquah Plan and the Rowleys’ ambitious plans the council has approved for high density, high-rise development in central Issaquah are examples of the inevitable “progress” that so often befalls nice towns in the proximity of big cities.

I suppose it would be unrealistic to expect the council to preserve our great little town. I’m sure the council members believe they’re doing the right thing. One-hundred-and-fifty-foot-tall buildings in central Issaquah. Millions of square feet of high-density development. Apartments and condos packed in cheek to jowl. Rats in a cage. Progress.

Which leaves us with two choices: 1) Stay and hope we’re toes up on the other side of the lawn before our fine little town turns into Bellevue’s ugly stepchild or b) Move someplace else. For my wife and I, the jury’s still out.

The Eagles’ “Hotel California” album concludes with a beautiful song, “The Last Resort,” chronicling the expansion of civilization across America, to California and eventually to Hawaii. It’s a song about “progress.”

The final line in the song laments: “Call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye.”

Goodbye, Issaquah. It was nice while it lasted.

Mike Harrington

Issaquah

Where is the watchdog keeping an eye on Rowley Development?

I have been disappointed by the general lack of coverage of the Rowley Development Agreement in The Issaquah Press. Finally, you put a lengthy article about the agreement in the Dec. 28 edition, unfortunately after the agreement was finalized.

The development agreement is a lot more complicated than you made out, especially with regard to the creek buffer. If you think, “The development agreement requires 100 feet for a buffer between the creek and construction” as you stated, then why is the creek buffer only 10 feet wide on the northern part of Hyla Crossing, and why is there a provision on the southern, “enhanced portion” of the creek buffer to allow for buildings to encroach within 25 feet of the stream (less than a 10 foot buffer and 15 foot building setback) for a total of 200 linear feet? There also was no provision for a buffer for Wetland C, a Class 1 wetland.

Admittedly, Rowley did make a major concession with regard to the north end of the creek buffer, indicating that he would hold off on redeveloping the north end of the buffer until the creek (and creek buffer) was moved away from his property. He said he would work with the city to acquire a portion of the Mull property and move the creek, but there was no indication of who would bear the cost of the land acquisition and creek/buffer restoration.

I am also unaware of any change to the building encroachment to the southern end, other than the addition of a drawing of a building with an overhang 25 feet from the stream.

There are many other concerns about the development agreement. At this point, I can only hope that Rowley Properties will produce a better development than what was required in the agreement.

Janet Wall

Issaquah

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

Marijuana

Fight to keep drug illegal is true gateway to more crime

Regarding your Dec. 13 editorial, not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but also adult recreational use should be legally regulated.

Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don’t ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn’t fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a cost-effective alternative to a never-ending drug war. As long as marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This “gateway” is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, www.csdp.org

Occupy protesters

Media guilty of glorifying illegal acts

Quotes from your front-page article:

“As the group blocked a downtown Seattle street and ignored orders to dispense.”

“Officers used pepper spray after warning demonstrators and exhausting other options to disperse the crowd.”

“The march ended up blocking a major intersection during rush hour.”

“Warnings were issued numerous times. The crowd did not get back. There was pushing and shoving from some of the demonstrators.”

It is only a few of the unscheduled, sort of spontaneous, unpermitted marches that have been problematic.

My judgment is it is shameful that the media puts an old woman’s picture on the article to gain sympathy for what are illegal acts. When one puts themselves in positions as mentioned above, sometimes they will get hurt. It goes with the territory and everyone needs to be aware of the risks.

Paul Williams

Issaquah

Christmas

Fanatics won’t be happy until religion is shoved down everyone else’s throat

Doing a great impersonation of the constantly offended Bill O’Reilly, columnist David Hayes complained about the alleged “war on Christmas” and how awful it is that public school teachers can no longer force Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and nonreligious children to perform songs glorifying the birth of Jesus Christ in front of their Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and nonreligious parents.

Hayes wrote, “Foothills Baptist Church and Issaquah Christian Church have hosted live nativity scenes, providing no better way to depict the original Christmas.” I agree with Hayes on that point: There’s no better way for Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ than on church property. Actually, I’ll expand that to include the front yards, back yards and living rooms of Christian homes.

So what is Hayes complaining about? In a bitter tone, Hayes cited the “grubby” ACLU and the “little” Freedom From Religion Foundation (the largest free-thought association in North America, according to www.ffrf.org). But those organizations are concerned only about violations of the separation of church and state. Issaquah Christian Church won’t hear a peep from the ACLU or FFRF when it hosts a manger scene on its property. Nor will any citizen who celebrates Jesus at home.

So Christians can freely celebrate the birth of Jesus to their heart’s content at home or church, and Hayes admits that there is “no better way” to do so. Thus I can’t understand what he’s whining about.

Hayes said his wish “would be an emphasis on the return of the true meaning of Christmas.” Emphasize it all you like. No one is stopping you. Display a crèche on your lawn. Two or three, if you like. Sing “O, Holy Night” until you get hoarse. The FFRF, ACLU, and I won’t care. We’ll care only when you want the government to facilitate your religious activities.

And that’s what it all boils down to. Freely exercising their religion isn’t enough for folks like Hayes. They’ll be happy only when they’ve shoved their religion down everyone else’s throats at City Hall, at the local library and in our public schools. To that goal, I reply, “Bah humbug.”

Matthew Barry

Issaquah

Carolers restored faith in the holiday

I had just set out on a walk with my dog at about 9 p.m. Dec. 21 down Bush Street and heard this glorious sound coming from the walkway. It was Christmas carolers in front of my house.

They had amazing voices and it was such an exhilarating experience these days. And, just when I was losing faith in our young people, i.e., teenagers, this group was made up of these wonderful young people.

Whoever you are, I just wanted to let you know that you filled me up with such good feelings and a wonderful Christmas spirit!

Thank you and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. It was a real gift!

Carol Sullivan

Issaquah

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

City staffing

Consultant is finding recommendations that our elected officials should have

The consultant that looked into city staff reorganization is recommending cutting back on public involvement as a means of cutting costs. After all, why should we have a way for our voices to be heard?

The taxpayers aren’t getting what they paid for when our mayor and city councilors have to spend $50,000 to hire a consultant to tell them that we have as many as 20 persons worth of redundancy or inefficiency within the city staff. In round numbers that will turn out to be approximately $1 million of our taxes, per year, that provided nothing of value to us.

If we need a consultant to show us things like this, we would do well to elect the consultant because the people we elected aren’t paying attention. Don’t blame the new councilors because they haven’t gotten their feet on the ground yet. But the mayor and the rest of the councilors should be held accountable. Are they working for the voters or are they working for the staff? The taxpayers deserve better than they are getting.

Hank Thomas

Issaquah

Development

City should not sign off on agreement that bends rules for businesses

I have read the Rowley Development Agreement (Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center) and find it to be a fascinating blend of space and time. The time harkens back to frontier Issaquah: no limits on space, land could be used for land’s sake, what a person owned was theirs and no one had more claim to that land than the owner to do with it what they desired. The space use turns back the clock as well, when the reality of cumulative effects, public/private land use, creek buffers and a clear understanding of science were unheard of.

But now, it’s 2012 — almost — and anybody with indoor plumbing knows that our creeks, salmon and water need exceptional buffers and that is why we have those requirement in our city code. We also know that there are and should be limits to what landowners can do with their property.

For all of these reasons, and more, the RDA asks for too much and gives back nothing in compromise. The great history of our community includes mutually beneficial patronage to and from Rowley businesses, but our elected officials should not bend over backward to supply one business with variances that obliterate all that we have sought to protect for decades in exchange.

Bryan Weinstein

Issaquah

Thank you

Kiwanis coat drive donations brought in 325 coats, 225 pairs of shoes

On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah, thank you to all who helped make the Annual Coat and Shoe Drive to benefit the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank a success.

This year, 13 local businesses and organizations partnered with Kiwanis as collection sites: AtWork! Issaquah Operations, Issaquah Branch of the American Association of University Women, Eastside Audiology, Foot Zone, Hawkins Orthodontics, Hilton Garden Inn, The Issaquah Press, Issaquah branch of Key Bank, Liberty High School Key Club, Columbia Athletic at Pine Lake, the Sammamish Club, Starbucks Coffee on Gilman and the Issaquah branch of US Bank.

During November, more than 325 coats, more than 220 pairs of shoes and other assorted winter clothing were collected to help those most in need in our community. I am proud of and deeply grateful to this wonderful community for its continued support of this project. Thank you again.

Judy Rogers

Kiwanis Club of Issaquah

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.

This “thru traffic” appears to be mostly high school drivers, who zip through the center parking area making it dangerous for those using the center’s parking spaces and walking across the parking area. While the above traffic check was being accomplished, there were a number of the people on the center’s walking track level standing at the windows, smiling and counting the number of offenders being addressed.

Hopefully, there will be future periodic traffic checks, to ensure the safety of the people using the center.

Ken Sessler

Issaquah

Issaquah food bank

Thanks to all who continue to stock shelves with their contributions

Dear community:

The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank serves a very important community service and mission and we could not do it without your support.

We are overwhelmed with your consideration and support this holiday season. We want you to know we gave out more than 400 turkey dinners the week of Thanksgiving. On Dec. 2, we gave out more than 300 new coats, gloves, hats and toys to children who needed them. We thank you for your donations, financial contributions and volunteer time.

We would like to send out several special thank yous! Thank you, Mountain Creek Christian Fellowship, for organizing volunteers to collect more than 40,000 pounds of food four weekends in a row at our local grocery stores for the Month of Concern Drive. Thank you, Eastside Fire & Rescue, particularly Ben Lane for camping on top of a moving truck for three nights over Thanksgiving weekend and collecting 15,860 pounds of food, clothing, diapers and toiletries.

Thank you, Kiwanis Club of Issaquah, for donating 312 coats and 220 pairs of shoes. To all of the Christmas Basket Program sponsors, thank you for supporting families and making Christmas special. And a final thank you to XXX Rootbeer Drive-In for donating a large moving truck full of new toys for the holiday season.

Thank you!

Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank

Staff and board of directors

Education

Thanks to all those who supported schools foundation fundraiser

Thank you to all of the families in the Issaquah School District who answered the call to support our kids during the Issaquah Schools Foundation’s All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign.

On Nov. 16, 17, and 19, more than 200 high school students from Issaquah, Liberty and Skyline gave their time to help give back to our schools. Our students were joined by PTSA members, Superintendent Steve Rasmussen, members of his executive cabinet, teachers, parents and community volunteers. Together, they called every family in the Issaquah School District. So far, the campaign has raised $325,000 from more than 2,150 families and has put the foundation on track to raise $1 million for our public schools.

Because of your generosity, our students will continue to benefit from investments that elevate the basic education funded by the state to the comprehensive, 21st century education they deserve and the global marketplace demands. You have secured support for programs that reach students of all ages and abilities, including After-School Homework Labs, VOICE mentors, financial literacy education and so much more. All in for Kids donations also will help fund the district’s upcoming Elementary Literacy curriculum adoption, a significant investment that can only be achieved with community assistance.

Did you miss the call? It’s not too late to join the campaign and make a difference for our students and schools! Learn more and donate online at www.isfdn.org.

Karen Stevens and Camille Vaska

All in for Kids co-chairs

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.

That being said, I am glad that the executive director informed the Vino Bella landlord of the graffiti, and that it was remedied. I would assume that the other building owners and historical society have been informed about their graffiti as well.

If a group of residents wishes to convene to help identify graffiti and work with landlords to identify and clean as needed, I would be willing to volunteer some time for the effort.

Bryce Van Parys

Issaquah

Highlands development

City should have higher priorities than financially backing developer

Thank you for your excellent editorial and reporting regarding the city’s plan to subsidize the developers in the Issaquah Highlands $3 million to $4 million in taxpayer dollars.

I have been to the council’s budget meetings before, and know how hidden they are. In my view, this is a topic that was inappropriate for this venue, and perfectly illustrates why city budget deliberations should be held in the Council Chambers and televised on channel 21. I guess it also perfectly illustrates why the politicians don’t want the public to watch them discuss their back-room budget deals.

The idea of subsidizing developers millions of public dollars to build a low-end 1980’s-style strip mall is simply disgusting. Besides that, this strip mall violates the highlands’ urban village concept and a cash payout, Issaquah’s vision for “economic vitality.”

The city’s Economic Vitality Element states: “The city’s vision for economic vitality is based on contributing to the city’s character and assuring that future development contributes to the city’s financial base.” Please note the word “contributes.”

For a long time now, every time I hear “economic vitality” mentioned at a council meeting it always means some sort of taxpayer giveaway is about to be granted. Never before has the payoff been in cash or so blatant. Growth is supposed to pay its own way and create benefits that contribute to the greater good. The city’s priority should be public safety, parks, roads and maintaining a vibrant community … not subsidizing private developers’ projects that don’t pencil out.

Right now the council is also considering putting a bond measure on the ballot for a new swimming pool and several new parks. These are exactly the types of amenities that we should be able to pay for with the “economic vitality” we gain from growth, rather than new taxes.

Maybe those in City Hall who support giving millions of dollars in public handouts to the developers should prioritize pool users, like our seniors and children, instead. Let’s spend these millions for a new pool first, and let them promote a bond measure for the developers. I look forward to that vote!

C.A. Christensen

Issaquah

Rules of the road

Speed limit is meant to protect more than just other humans

Last night, at something after 10 p.m., I was driving south on Front Street after a performance of “Annie Get Your Gun.” It was dark and very rainy, but I could see a young doe ahead on Issaquah-Hobart Road, just past the intersection with Second Street.

I slowed to let the deer cross. The driver in the car behind me passed me on the left and almost hit the doe. I honked and the doe headed one way, and then the other, finally jumping off the road. The other car sped down Issaquah-Hobart Road at a speed well above the posted 35 mph.

We moved here just over four years ago and this is my first encounter with a deer. I’m pretty sure my actions were appropriate, and those of the driver behind me were not. I am thankful that the doe wasn’t hit. I hope the driver of the car that passed me will think twice before impulsively passing a slowed car again.

Cate V. Mueller

Issaquah

Quarry redevelopment

Steer plans more toward mixed use

I am delighted to know there are plans to develop the unsightly quarry area. I just wonder why it has to be another highlands/Talus intensity-density project. (Economics, I know!)

It would be lovely to see a mixed-use (retail/residential) development with some attention to aesthetics … stone, wood, space, trees … Am I living in an unrealistic bubble? What do the people of Issaquah want there?

Barbara Extract

Issaquah