For 25 years, I’ve watched the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital stumble and stagger along. Now, believe it or not, the hospital commissioners have figured out the problem! We need a new hospital! Who knew it was that simple?
As a North Bend resident, I have been particularly observant of North Bend resident Caroline Loudenback’s service as a director on the Snoqualmie Valley School District board.
Many in our community know that I have supported the election of her replacement on the school board, but I am writing today to give recognition where it’s due for Caroline.
This year, for the very first time, the Snoqualmie Valley Rotary Club offered a free dinner to the public on Thanksgiving Day at the Mount Si Senior Center.
We are very grateful to have the senior center available to make this offering. There was an impressive outpouring of generosity and support from many volunteers, made up of Snoqualmie Valley Rotarians, family and friends along with members of local churches and businesses.
Several days have passed since the marvelous sampling of education being afforded our fortunate students of Twin Falls Middle School and Mount Si High School. I have yet to come down from the inspirational high the school district provided.
They have proven from all quarters that there is no substitute for enthusiastic commitment. Last Wednesday’s (Nov. 16) tour demonstrated the obvious joy, pride and professional manner of the educational process in our community. Enthusiasm by its very nature is essential to the art of teaching. The vitality, zeal and dedication witnessed is inspirational and so contagious. And as the song goes, “You Give Me Fever.”
Thank you for the Valley news and stories. I like reading about Si View, it’s interesting to me.
I remember the contest to name the new community building, and the two young girls who submitted the winning name of “Si View.” They were Peggy Riley Westerlund and Vera Bluher Walker.
I would like to share with your readers a special event that happened in the Snoqualmie Valley on October 28, called “Night on a Dark Trail.”
This seasonal event, tied to Halloween, was held for the enjoyment of Snoqualmie Valley residents with donations helping our neighbors in need at Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank.
I am a strong believer in collaborative relationships and civility. I do not believe in making enemies and have always tried to deal with opponents—both professionally and personally—in a respectful manner.
I must say, however, that I have never been as shocked by anything coming from the city as I was when I read that Mayor Larson—rather than listening and responding thoughtfully to concerns expressed by concerned residents and business owners (who have been part of this community longer than he has) lambasted some of our most responsible citizens by calling them “unreasonable” and “unfair” for speaking out against the annexation of the old mill site for the benefit of a rally driving school.
Life Enrichment Options, or LEO, held our Harvesting Hope luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Pickering Barn in Issaquah.
A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who attended and to those who sent donations to support our work of providing a quality of life for adults with developmental disabilities (www.lifeenrichmentoptions.org). Your support creates true inspiration for us in working toward making the dreams of these people we love and care about so much come true.
In just nine years under local control, Si View Community Center, Park and Pool has truly become a center in our community. Family Nights, Farmers Market, exercise classes, youth sports, adult recreation leagues, arts programming and much more fill our days and facility. The place is alive with healthy activity.
We urge voters to protect and maintain our community center, park and pool by voting yes for Propositions 1 & 2.
In a recent school board candidate forum, Carolyn Simpson, a candidate running for school board position no. 3, responded to the question, “What role, if any, do you think the school board has in the Day of Silence?” Mrs. Simpson does not “support designating any school day for any one special cause” and instead wants to establish one day in the fall called the “Day of Respect.” She also stated that the Day of Silence interferes with academics.
The Mount Si Gay Straight Alliance, the student club which runs the Day of Silence (DOS), is encouraging both Carolyn Simpson and Valley voters to consider the following.
I feel so fortunate that I have the opportunity to experience “Ernie’s Canyon,” the section of the North Fork that is threatened. I travel to North Bend a dozen or more times a year to run this river. It contains the highest quality mile of expert kayaking around, and it is only 40 minutes from Seattle. The beauty, mystery and allure of this wilderness canyon are indescribable.
An Oct. 19 letter to the editor encouraged us to do our research before voting in the Snoqualmie Valley School District school board races. Here are three facts that the writer apparently missed.
First, of an original 440 ninth graders, only 315 graduated on time last June. This is the lowest on-time graduation rate of any Eastside school district.
With the election drawing near, advertising both for and against Initiative 1183 to allow liquor sales in grocery stores and large retail outlets is nearing a fever pitch. By now, most of us have heard that Costco is by far the largest supporter of the initiative ($22 million!), while the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America is providing much of the funding against the initiative.