Off the Press
May 1, 2012
Finally, a Hallmark holiday I can support
David Hayes Press reporter
I have long used this space to spout off against contrived occasions (Valentine’s Day, I’m talking about you).
However, when it comes to Mother’s Day, I think this is one deserving observance that the country got right.
Think about it — take any athlete, growing up, playing catch with Dad, being taught how to throw a curve ball or that perfect spiral. After successfully navigating all the levels of sports, from amateur to professional, and as that television camera pans over to him, what’s the first words that come out of his mouth?
“Hi, Mom.”
Although I never made it into professional sports, it was with my own mom that I first got behind the wheel of the family car and attempted to navigate city streets. I do believe that’s also where I first observed that anxiety really does cause white knuckles.
To the Editor
May 1, 2012
Planned Parenthood brouhaha
Protestors are showing clients that there are options
A rebuttal to Laurie Clark about the Planned Parenthood protesters:
Many years ago, I walked into an abortion facility, nervous, ashamed and terrified that I was making the wrong decision.
I wasn’t sure what I should do but felt I had no options. So I did what both my boyfriend and parents told me I should do: I had an abortion.
Press Editorial
April 24, 2012
Spring clean the medicine chest, too
Off the Press
April 24, 2012
Christina lords Press reporter
Long and winding road comes to a sad end
I’m seated in the waiting room of Issaquah’s Midas Muffler and Brake Shop as Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” drifts through speakers overhead, but I don’t have to wait long.
The Midas man steps in through the door holding a section of rusty muffler from my 1995 Kia Sephia.
Before he even gets a word out, I know. Our 10-year run together is over.
Midas man, bless his heart, lets me down easy. It’ll cost $600 to $900 to fix, more than the car is worth.
I’ll explain my situation. I’ve been scrimping and saving for a down payment — $50 dollars here, $25 there — for a new car for nearly two years. I have $2,000 saved. Paying to fix the Kia (affectionately pronounced by her pet name “ki-uh” for years) now just doesn’t make financial sense.
To the Editor
April 24, 2012
Issaquah School District bond
Issaquah residents care for the school district’s youths
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools wants to thank the Issaquah School District community for passing the maintenance and construction bond.
Each community has its own set of priorities. This community demonstrated that education is a top priority by approving the maintenance and construction bond during challenging economic times with a 70 percent yes vote.
We are honored to live in and be a part of a community that holds the education of its youth as a high priority. Your investment in our youth will pay off for years to come. Thank you again for investing in our youth and reaffirming the deep commitment this community has to education.
Lesley Austin
VIS Board
Press Editorial
April 17, 2012
Give a nod to planet Earth
Arbor Day is April 21, followed by Earth Day on April 22. Both are an equal opportunity to show appreciation for the third rock from the sun.
The city Parks & Recreation Department will plant 150 trees along Issaquah Creek on Saturday in honor of Arbor Day. Just last week, the city earned Tree City USA status for the 19th year.
Earth Day gets a jumpstart in Issaquah on Thursday when Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon fry are released into Laughing Jacobs Creek. Public tours are available this weekend to see what happens to unrecycled garbage at the Cedar Hills Landfill in south Issaquah. Also south of the city limits, volunteers will mulch and weed the Log Cabin Natural Area along Issaquah Creek. Volunteers will do back-country trail work on Cougar Mountain.
Off the Press
April 17, 2012
Kathleen Merrill Press managing editor
It seems to me that fewer people on the planet have learned anything about manners these days. Or maybe they just aren’t using them.
I was at Amante restaurant downtown recently to catch the awesome band Creme Tangerine. There was a group of people who were having a private party and they would not sit down. Now this wouldn’t have been a problem except they made up a huge wall between the band and the rest of the people in the restaurant, who came to see the band.
In fact, they were so rude that they wouldn’t even sit down after the lead singer of the band politely asked them to. (And I won’t repeat what some of them shouted back. This is a family newspaper, after all.)
And no, for the most part, until right near the end, these people weren’t dancing and having a good time. They were talking, drinking and sometimes swearing. Loudly.
To the Editor
April 17, 2012
Central Issaquah Plan
Read the facts, not propaganda
Issaquah is a special place to live. Many of us cherish this beautiful city we call home. Many of you put in countless hours volunteering for the betterment of our community, always trying to find ways to improve what we treasure.
We all know that growth and enrichment for our city is to be expected. The question is, do we want to manage it in a carefully planned manner or have it thrust upon us? Either way, it’s coming.
Recently, I noticed several Eyes on Issaquah signs pop up in my neighborhood as well as on the Issaquah Valley floor.
This website illustrates an example of propaganda-charged material posted in an effort to instill doubt in the minds of the community to put a stop to the Central Issaquah Plan under the guise of convincing people to get involved.
Press Editorial
April 10, 2012
Grassroots politics begin at precinct level
It was standing room only at Republican caucuses in March, and now it’s the Democrats’ turn. While there is not the same excitement of helping pick a party choice for president, there is plenty of reason for Democrats to attend their caucus meetings April 15.
Barack Obama will be the incumbent candidate for sure, but the Democratic caucus is the opportunity to help shape the party platform on many topics, including health care, civil rights, national security and the federal budget.
Off the Press
April 10, 2012
Warren Kagarise Press reporter
A century after disaster, Titanic still captivates
Long before “Titanic” the film — and long before every member of my generation and I thronged to the multiplex for repeated screenings — at age 6, I discovered a book in my school library about the disaster.
Captivated, I sought out everything I could about the doomed ocean liner — a morbid fascination for a first-grader, for sure. Other disasters piqued my interest — Hindenburg, Lusitania, et al — but only the Titanic remained a full-blown obsession.
I leafed through oceanographer Robert Ballard’s “The Discovery of the Titanic” so often the spine started to disintegrate. I used more care to handle the National Geographic issue about the discovery — December 1985, pilfered from my grandparents’ meticulously curated collection.
In Don Lynch, a pre-eminent Titanic historian based in Los Angeles, I found a kindred spirit.
