To: The many folks who helped make Snoqualmie’s Tree Lighting, Art Walk and Holiday Open House (held Dec. 1), so special; the City of Snoqualmie Arts Commission, Parks Department, and the Ridge Owner’s Association.
It’s been just weeks since the 2012 elections, and I imagine many of you welcome the reprieve from campaign advertising. You may have been disappointed regarding the ballot box results. However, I encourage you to accept the voice of the people and to become more engaged in the process. Washington elected to retain single-party rule for at least another term. It remains to be seen, though, if our new elected leaders will change course from a path that brought us declining quality of public education and fiscal uncertainty. In representative government, we must articulate the citizens’ priorities to our leaders. That task knows no rest, both in and out of election season.
I wanted to send a quick note and say a big “Thank you” to all of the wonderful non-perishable products you have been dropping off at the church this last week for the Adra P. Berry Memorial Food Bank here in Preston.
You gracious donations of food and cash have been very much appreciated and please know they will be used to serve those at the food bank.
Again, thank you so much.
Last week, the King County Democrats unanimously passed the resolution I wrote asking the Legislature to require food products containing GMOs to be labeled.
A genetically modified organism (GMO)-is a plant or an animal whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering (GE) techniques. So far, this is being done with bacteria and yeast, plants, fish, birds and mammals.
GMOs are believed by many to have serious adverse effects on human health.
As landowners of a forested parcel in King County, my wife and I have experienced first-hand the benefits provided by the landowner assistance programs offered through the King Conservation District.
In early 2012 with the help of King CD’s Landowner Incentive Program (LIP), we able to hire a forestry contractor to remove invasive weeds and plant 1,200-plus conifers on our property in the Duvall area. Not only does this benefit our property, but it also helps to promote better water quality now and into the future for the Snoqualmie Valley.
On behalf of the Mount Si PTSA, we would like to thank our awesome Snoqualmie Valley community for their wonderful support of this year’s annual ValleyFest on Nov. 10. We had more people visiting and shopping with over 50 local vendors of handmade and unique items than ever before! Everyone enjoyed the homemade food provided by the culinary arts students. Kids, young and old, enjoyed a visit with Santa. We thank Chuck Smith and the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad Museum for all their help.
In response to the gentlemen who wrote about threatening-looking dogs (Are Valley’s leash laws being enforced, Nov. 14), I am a newcomer to the Valley. I have only lived here for 13 years. I use different trails and mountains in the area, on an almost daily basis. I have never been threatened, or seen any threatening-looking dogs on these trails.
Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis would like to extend our thanks for leadership, cooperation and support to the fifth grade teachers and elementary school principals in the Valley. For the first time ever, Kiwanis created an essay contest for fifth graders.
The topic of the essay was kindness. It was all part of Pay it Forward week sponsored by Snoqualmie Valley Women in Business. Kiwanis awarded 13 prizes of $50 cash for the best student essays. Many of the teachers spent time in their classrooms talking about kindness and promoting it with their students. Almost 300 essays were completed and submitted.
What a treat for our reviewers to read these very touching stories and what a hard job it was to pick the best 13.
It has been a busy couple of months for the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation. In September, we put together and delivered 24 new teacher welcome bags, filled with lots of goodies, thanks to generous local businesses.
Unfortunately, more and more individuals exhibit little to no respect for our laws; even little ones like our leash laws.
Not only does King County have a leash law, but North Bend also does.
After being chased by large dogs, unleashed and often unattended, I have posted copies of the law in parks for public awareness, but the problem persists.
I wanted to say thank you for running this story (Another brick in the wall: Mount Si football, Oct. 10)!
As a parent of one of the linemen it was a thrill to see them being recognized in the paper. It takes the entire team working together to make it all happen and they’ve all done great this year.
Keep up the awesome reporting on our local youth sports and athletes!
The 91st American Education Week is November 11 to 17. First celebrated in 1919, the purpose of this nation-wide observance is to celebrate schools and highlight the importance of public education. Good schools and a first-rate system of education are fundamental to our country’s future as a democracy. If America is to remain the world’s model for discovery and innovation, its citizenry must be highly educated.
For communities like ours, excellent schools are a source of pride. Parents and community patrons understand the importance of schools and embrace the responsibility of educating the community’s children. A strong school system contributes to the health and vibrancy of the community. And for young people, education is the key to a successful and prosperous future. Education is essential if they are to fully realize their dreams and aspirations.
Imagine asking a group of people to stay out on a dark trail for three hours and do it in the rain? Imagine asking young dancers to perform a difficult song in a parking lot with a light tower for stage lighting? Imagine having this happen with Snoqualmie Valley residents for two nights in a row as cast, crew and audience? It happened.
Imagine them enjoying it and wanting to do it next year. In this the second year’s performance of Night on a Dark Trail, the weather didn’t dampen our spirits. While some stayed home, those who attended saw a great show and raised roughly $4,400 for Mount Si Food Bank. It is great to have an idea for a community event, to make it a reality. It requires work and sacrifice from a great many willing individuals and sponsors.