I write to you on this wonderful Thanksgiving day – full of thanks to Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorps (domestic version of PeaceCorps), and all the faith communities who have helped us to build our homes, as well as the countless businesses and organizations who donated materials, in-kind donations and labor. The 3,300 volunteers from this community, the Seattle area and nationwide, will forever be etched in my memory. Their stories of traveling on airplanes – with buckets full of tools as carry-on – their long days, persistence and good cheer in the heat wave, as well as the roofers working through the October wind and rain, has touched my life permanently.

Many of us new Habitat homeowners are longtime Snoqualmie Valley residents. Although my time (17 years in the Valley) is nothing compared to some of my elder friends in the Valley (70-85 years), I think maybe we are a potential “bridge” between the newtimers and the oldtimers. As a community, we must rise above our differences and notice our similarities!

One similarity is the traffic concern on Snoqualmie Parkway. Although Barbara Beattie and Charles Peterson cite a long history of the Parkway’s intention as a truck thoroughfare route between I-90 and Snoqualmie, my belief is that we all live here in the Snoqualmie Valley and we all must strive to get along and solve safety problems without blame. We have a gravely serious safety hazard to our children that is worth coming together for. We have to pull together.

For children in the Koinonia Ridge Habitat Community, they will be expected currently to cross the parkway to get to the bike trail leading down to Snoqualmie or up to the Ridge. I personally will not allow my child to make that crossing independently, as it is extremely dangerous with high volumes of truck traffic and no crossing with a stoplight or a crossover bridge for bikers or walkers. It is an accident waiting to happen! I will be joining Tom Sprague in approaching our separate homeowners’ associations to go on to the City Council and help make our community safe and kid-friendly.

In closing, I applaud a faithful Habitat volunteer, Leonard Eiger, who has been with us since ground breaking in the spring of 2001 (or before). I agree with Leonard’s letter to the editor: shop locally to support our community rather than giving in to fads and fancies like Krispy Kreme. George’s Bakery has the best apple fritters, short lines and old-time atmosphere, plus, owner Greg has supported Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers with donations of dozens of doughnuts, weekly, through the summer and the building blitz. Thank you Greg and thank you Leonard!

Thanks again to everyone who has supported Habitat for Humanity. From the first 20 homeowners.

Jill Mortenson

Snoqualmie