Letter from a prom pal: Be safe, have fun
My name is Jolie Shelton. I am 10 years old and go to North Bend Elementary. My job is to make sure you have a happy and safe prom.
There are many steps to help you achieve a happy and safe prom. The first one is don’t drink, smoke or do drugs. They won’t just harm you, they’ll harm your friends and family, who trust you to make good choices.
NB Chief: Pounds of drugs dropped off, community safer
On Saturday, April 27, we once again participated in the federally supported prescription Drug Drop Day in North Bend.
We had over 79 pounds of unneeded, unused or expired prescription drugs brought to our location for safe and environmentally sensitive disposal by citizens from throughout the area, both inside of and around North Bend.
Letters| Did you know firefighters, medics are often volunteers?
Our family has lived in North Bend for the past 13 years and only found out last Friday night that the North Bend and Snoqualmie fire stations are run by a combination of paid firefighters and volunteer medics.
My son got into a serious ATV accident early last Friday evening, and we called 911 for an ambulance. Eight men arrived to assist with the accident. One man explained that three were paid firefighters, and the rest were trained volunteers. They have families and careers, yet give their time to help people in their community.
Due to lack of funding and a fire department founded on volunteers, our community now relies on these volunteers to provide a vital service.
Letters | Thanks for supporting the first Valley Blues Walk, says Boxleys owner
The first-ever North Bend Blues Walk was a great success thanks to everyone involved. More than 1,200 people came out on Saturday, April 20, filling 13 venues downtown. Following in the same fashion as the successful Jazz Walk last September, music could be found all up and down North Bend Way from 6 to midnight and patrons wandered from venue to venue, enjoying the experience of it all.
We had a great group of new venues added to the list with music in some unconventional places. There was live music in a retail storefront like Birches Habitat and a car dealership showroom like Chaplin’s Chevrolet. Thanks to all our host venues, the Pour House, Snoqualmie Valley Moose Lodge, Pioneer Coffee, Birches Habitat, Emerald City Smoothie, North Bend Theatre, Twede’s Cafe, Euro Lounge Cafe, George’s Bakery, Valley Center Stage, Boxley’s, Chaplin’s, and Scott’s Dairy Freeze.
Letters | Help Valley’s schools grow and prosper, cut out the undermining
As a forest manager for over 20 years, I appreciate the complexities of the ecosystem in which we are fortunate to live. A forest system involves a complex balance to grow and flourish — from ancient snow-capped mountaintops to the delicate forest floor in which young seedlings need nourishment to take root each year.
I draw a similar analogy to the complexities of sustaining a healthy school system. It takes seasoned education professionals who can adapt to seasons of change, together with involved families and community support, to ensure our children have the “nourishment” and foundation they need to grow and prosper into contributing adults themselves.
Letters | Take the long view with plastic bags
In response to “Give us a choice: plastic or paper,” the letter in the April 3 Valley Record, while I agree with the argument that it is commendable to reuse plastic bags a second time, the problem is that they still end up in the landfill. This is a short postponement of a long-term and serious problem.
Letters | Granite Mountain’s risks were known years ago
Granite Mountain took the life of Professor John Scribner of North Bend almost 30 years ago to the day; April 16, 1983, on an unseasonably warm day.
Will we ever learn that Granite Mountain features indicate that catastrophic events will occur? The trail to the top can be accessed in a much safer location. It is time to act and fix the problem before the next victim.
Letters | Lack of attention for criminals in gun debate
The editorial page cartoon, (‘Nuclear kitchen’, March 27 Valley Record) with an attitude, seems to be poking a thumb in the eye of whomever manages, or mismanages, the Hanford nuclear waste mess.
Nowhere in the piece do I see an image of Nevada Senator Harry Reid, who bears a good deal of the blame for effectively blocking utilization of the Yucca Flat waste repository in his state.
We taxpayers shelled out a goodly sum to build that thing and many of Reid’s constituents took home those tax dollars while building it and there it sits, unused.
Letters | Ditch the crutches, emphasize cursive skills
Every so often, the ranking of a significant number of the world’s industrialized countries’ students achievement test scores is published. I cannot remember any such ranking for our country that was not dismal, and should be embarrassing for all Americans.
Education is not a static process and changes are not always an improvement. I recall that in the ‘60s, Latin was removed from our high school curriculum. In the ‘70s, the use of phonics in teaching reading was challenged and in some instances, replaced. Calculators were, after much debate, allowed in sixth grade math. “New math” became a popular title for an unpopular program that mystified, and still mystifies, some parents.
Letters | Give us a choice: Plastic or paper bags
I hate to spend my time writing about something as trivial as grocery bags, but there are people who think that plastic bags are the greatest evil on earth—worse than abortion or marijuana!—and they want to ban plastic bags.
It’s hard to stand and fight for plastic bags when they are so trivial. But they have value. I use them for our wastebaskets. I use them for litter in my car. Many people use them for kitty litter and doggie-do (every day). Plastic bags beat paper when it comes to damp groceries (like produce, ice cream, etc). Plastic bags are easier for senior citizens to carry. If some people like cloth (or paper), good for them! They can keep using what they like. But the rest of us should be allowed to make our own choices. This is America (at least for now).
Letters | Dr. Seuss would be proud of North Bend students' reading efforts
Every March, Opstad Elementary celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday by hosting a school-wide reading challenge. Because Opstad’s mascot is an otter, this year’s theme was “You Otter Be Reading!” The challenge is a fun way to motivate children to read outside of the school day. Our otters read and read and read! We would like to thank the following businesses who so generously donated a myriad of prizes for our readers: Papa Murphy’s, Mount Si Golf Course, North Bend Bar and Grill, Emerald City Smoothie, Selah Gifts, North Bend Theatre, Phoenix Books, Mt. Si Gymnastics Academy, Rocko’s Diner, Ace Hardware, George’s Bakery, Mount Si Shell Station, QFC and Twede’s Café.
