Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

SAMMAMISH VALLEY

I hope you read the article that Tom Quigley submitted in the Woodinville Weekly.

All his concerns about our precious area here in the Sammamish Valley and the changes some want to make, are all strong concerns of mine and for many others.

We still have to be vigilant, and hopefully future generations will be aware and will not let our efforts have been in vain.

I’m 94, having lived here since 1923, but am still an “activist” where this is still uppermost in my caring and love of this area.

Helen McMahon, Woodinville

STATE SENATOR RACE

There is more at stake in the contest between Dawn McCravey and Rosemary McAuliffe than who will be our state senator.

This election may well determine which party controls the state senate.  That could mean that Washington women could find their right to make decisions about their health care in jeopardy.

CBS Evening News reported on August 26 that since Republicans came to power in state governments in 2010, 32 states have adopted abortion restrictions.

In the first six months of 2012, 15 states passed 39 restrictions on abortion. Last year, CBS says that 24 states passed 92 restrictions, which they say was an all-time record.

If McCravey is elected and Republicans win control of both the houses of the legislature and the governorship, we could well see similar attacks on abortion rights in our own state.

Rosemary McAuliffe has a strong pro-choice voting record.

Considering the stakes, we have a right to know exactly where McCravey stands on the issue of choice before we vote.

Jeanne Alonge, Bothell

I read a letter in last week’s Woodinville Weekly and felt the need to respond.

It stated Dawn McCravey (running in LD #1 district for senator), is the VP and director of an oil company.  I looked into this and I found her family has a small consulting and oil business called Petrorey with their mother as president and she and her sister are listed as VPs.

It was her parents who contributed $250 toward her campaign (If your daughter was running for office, wouldn’t you contribute?).

Dawn grew up on a small farm in Texas, where they grew cotton and food in a conservative house — not everyone in Texas lives like the TV series, “Dallas.”

Second, the statement that Dawn’s husband is an owner of an oil company [Ed. Note: In last week’s letter from Cathy Ferbrache-Garrand I indicated my research was unclear as whether he was an owner or an account manager]  the truth is he is an account manager and, just as Target does, Cabot rewards excellent employees with stock options. So, the cashier working at Target is as much an owner of a large company as Dawn’s husband.

And questions raised on Dawn’s viewpoints besides education? Dawn’s expertise and focus is education and that is what the majority of our state budget is spent on. If we continue with the status quo, Microsoft and Boeing will continue to hire outside our state as Washington is unable to provide graduates needed for our local technical and aerospace companies.  If someone is trying to portray Dawn as a big wig oil tycoon, then goodness, let’s just say her opponent is not hurting financially.

Instead, I would like to hear how each candidate plans to improve on what our education system is lacking.

Other states have done wonders with education on smaller budgets, so it is feasible. And if you are wondering whether Dawn is the right candidate, I recommend attending a Northshore school board meeting and witness Dawn in action, as a school board director.

Gayle Hickey, Woodinville

Sen. McAuliffe and the 3 tax loopholes: sounds like a three bears story, but it isn’t; it’s worse than that. It’s real.

In March 2011, Senator McAuliffe and two Legislative District 1 representatives held a few town hall meetings with Representative Derek Sanford(D) and Representative Luis Moscoso (D).

Senator McAuliffe told the audience that the three big loopholes in state tax revenue were food, prescription drugs and manufacturing.

• Taxing food would most harm THE POOR.

• Taxing prescriptions would most harm THE ELDERLY AND INFIRM.

• Taxing businesses also hits the consumer, hurting EVERYONE.

Senator Rosemary McAuliffe wants to dig deeper into our wallets and purses. We don’t pay enough yet? When will it ever be enough?

Luis Moscoso talked about increasing traffic tolls.

The solution to Washington state’s budget problems is in reducing spending, not increasing taxes.

Senator McAuliffe is in my opinion working against us, not for us.

It’s time for new faces right here in Legislative District 1.

Enter Dawn McCravey, Rosemary’s challenger.

Dawn offers experience, reason and common sense and wants to solve state problems, not seek increased taxes for more studies that look like something’s being done, but go nowhere.

And yes, in my opinion, Derek Sanford and Luis Moscoso have also failed us.

Enter Sandy Guinn (R) and Mark Davies (R). They are challenging incumbents Derek Sanford and Luis Moscoso for Washington state representative, Positions 1 and 2.

Mark Davies was a write-in candidate! He made the November ballot because of a groundswell of write-in votes in the primary! That’s rare.

Many people knew this fine man and wanted a capable, reasonable alternative to Luis Moscoso. So do I. Mark Davies is that man.

Sandy Guinn brings experience and ability to the job, a resume fit for the position, plus the wisdom of years are in her favor compared to her opponent Derek Sanford.

If LD1 voters want to be heard in Olympia, these three excellent fresh candidates: Dawn McCravey, Sandy Guinn and Mark Davies want to go to work for you — for all of you.

Joel Kolbo, LD1, Snohomish

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Board of Directors of the Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance are greatly concerned for the health, fitness and academic development of the students of the Northshore School District due to recent decisions at the junior high level to decrease the time for physical education or change it from a required course to an elective.

This is contrary to state law and will harm the physical and academic development of your students.

State law (WAC 392-410-135) is very clear on the requirements for physical education: “An average of at least 100 instructional minutes per week per year in physical education shall be required of all pupils in the common schools in the grade school program (grades 1-8).”

Physical education is included in a basic education because it enhances brain function and academic achievement.

Our state does not allow students to electively withdraw from math or language arts. Like physical education and fitness, these subjects are crucial to our students’ education and are required.

When you allow adolescents to forgo physical education, the following educational opportunities will be lost for those students:

• Increased fitness levels. Quality physical education includes pre- and post-fitness testing and goal setting for all students as well as developmentally appropriate programs that ensure students have a chance to reach their goals.

•Age appropriate instruction on fitness and health principles. Quality physical education includes well-designed lessons that facilitate student learning of health and fitness concepts.

•Physical skill development.  Research has shown that adults with few physical skills are less likely to be active as adults and more likely to be overweight. Quality physical education provides students with a wide range of physical skill development.

• Social skill development. Quality physical education provides structured opportunities to improve emerging social and cooperative skills.

To ensure the physical, mental and social development of all its students, we encourage the Northshore School District to continue to require a full basic education by continuing to require quality physical education to all junior high students.

Paul Clinton, President–Elect, Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

POLICE BEAT

Funniest police beats!

I moved to Woodinville about a month ago, and those police briefs just crack me up. Keep ’em coming!

I’ll have to send these in to Jay Leno for his Headlines segment.

Thanks for the giggles.

Carol Tucker, Woodinville

DAWN MCCRAVEY

Education in this state, as in so many other states across this nation, is suffering from a plethora of problems.

Among them are lack of appropriate and effectively focused funding, together with the unwillingness to objectively address the many operational issues hamstringing efforts to improve the delivery of a first class education to our students.

As Dawn McCravey has pointed out, the present incumbent, Senator McAuliffe, has been either unable or unwilling to address these issues. Good intentions are not enough and it is time for a change in leadership.

The status quo simply will not produce the needed improvements.Dawn McCravey is well placed to bring about the changes needed to improve our education system. Her record as an experienced school board member and involvement in all aspects of the school/community relationship is outstanding, her dedication unquestioned.

She is a clear thinker, passionate about education, well aware of what is at stake and willing to make the hard choices.

She is clearly someone who can be trusted to dedicate her total effort in making the improvements in education we so desperately need.

Michael P. Challenger, Bothell

If Dawn McCravey purports to value transparency in government, there was little of it at Lockwood Elementary, where the PTA hosted a tightly scripted forum with state Senator Rosemary McAuliffe and her challenger, Dawn McCravey on one issue — education.

At the end, questions beyond education were allowed.

Few people know that Dawn is the VP and director of a family-owned oil company, Petrorey Inc. in San Antonio, Texas (her largest contributor to her 2011 school board election) and that her husband Lee O. McCravey is ... [ed. note: one source lists Lee McCravey as an owner, while another identifies him as an account manager] of Cabot Oil and Gas, (a fracking company that was levied a $4.6 million environmental penalty in Pennsylvania last year).

When asked how she felt about fracking in Washington with her close ties to the oil and gas industry, Dawn responded that “Petrorey was a very small company” and laughed at the implication that she might use her state senate position to the benefit of oil and gas companies.

My concern is that there are no debates or public forums scheduled and no real scrutiny on the part of the press to find out Dawn McCravey’s values and what agenda she would like to advance as an elected senator. As a state senator she has to represent all of the people of the First District.

We should know how she would legislate on women’s health, public safety, transportation and environmental protection. Dawn’s reluctance to speak openly to the questions asked of her is troubling.

Cathy Ferbrache-Garrand, Bothell

ROSEMARY MCAULIFFE

Rosemary McAuliffe has been a  supporter and advocate for positive outcomes and progress in the greater Northshore area for many years.

She is energetic and tireless.

Even before she was a Washington state senator or a member of the Northshore School Board she worked in this community in support of children, business and the arts.

Her efforts on behalf of children extended to all children and she especially was mindful of the needs of children with special needs.

If you look back 35 to 40 years, you will find her inprint on many good works in the schools that her family attended and some of her grandkids still attend.

She supported the development of the Northshore Performing Arts Center, both with her enthusiasm and her financial contribution.

Rosemary was a driving force in the placement and growth of Cascadia Community College and the Bothell branch of the University of Washington in this community.

Rosemary is deserving of our support so she can continue to promote positive change in the 1st District and the state of Washington.

Joanne Harkonen, a  52-year member of the Northshore community

REFERENDUM 74

My partner Rick Chatterton and I have been volunteering as phone bank callers with Washington United for Marriage over the past several months.

Our efforts have been aimed at educating undecided voters in eastern King County with facts about Referendum 74 and persuading them to vote to approve it.

The experience has been a highly rewarding and encouraging for both of us.

Thank you to all the people who were open to discussing their feelings on the issue and found that civic marriage should be available to all loving couples, regardless of sexual orientation.

Whether it was hearing our own personal story of being in a committed relationship for over fourteen years or other personal influences, we appreciate your willingness to listen and decision to support approving Referendum 74.

Rick and I were thrilled when the Washington State Legislature and Senate approved marriage equality earlier this year through bi-partisan support (including our own Republican senator, Andy Hill).

In a few short weeks Washington has an historic opportunity to become the first state to have a voter-approved law extending marriage equality to all committed and loving couples.

Rick and I look forward to celebrating with you — our neighbors, friends and family — when Referendum 74 is APPROVED.

Steven Franz and Rick Chatterton, Woodinville

My name is Tom Quigley and I have enjoyed more than 22 years of running a business on farmland just south of Woodinville. Early on I became interested in the farmlands and how they could be used to grow and market farm products, and from that interest I found myself serving on the King County Agriculture Commission. I served as chair for two years.

During the several years that I was on the commission we worked on many challenging issues, including the listing of certain salmon as endangered and how that would impact farmland and agriculture.

We worked on marketing strategies such as Puget Sound Fresh and we worked to make farm markets more prolific in our urban communities.

We recognized the visionary work of early farm preservation advocates.  Without the farmland preservation work done in the 1980s our remaining fertile valleys would resemble what is now the Kent Valley or even closer to home, the Sammamish Valley west of the river where today concrete tilt-up warehouses and asphalt pavement cover what was once vital wetlands and fertile  land.

As mandated by county code, we must from time to time review whether the Urban Growth Boundary should remain where it is.

We are now considering  whether certain parcels should retain their agriculture designation and zoning.

While  it may be true that these  certain parcels may never again be tilled for crops, the buffer they provide to adjacent tillable land is invaluable.

Media has covered the advocacy for or against a change in the Urban Growth Boundary.

Yard signs say yah or nay.  I believe there is another option.

It was visionary thinking that created the Farmland Preservation Act and innovation and leadership that created our Agriculture Production Districts.

Where is the innovation and visionary thinking today?

If we are so complacent as to say that policy made some 25 years ago is the best policy for today, we are likely missing an opportunity to improve on what we have accomplished thus far.

As a community we value the open space and the production of our nearby farmlands. We have before us an opportunity to assess what we have and to consider what it is our farmlands need from us in order to continue to provide the benefits that we know and enjoy.

Perhaps there is a new agriculture overlay that retains the ag zoning while providing for the additional services needed in close proximity to the production lands; better markets, better educational opportunities, better resources needed by today’s small scale farmer.  And always, better connection to the community.

What clever ideas have we failed to consider?

Woodinville is not unlike so many places that are truly defined by the natural beauty of the surrounding area but it is unique in that the surrounding natural beauty could so easily be lost if we so casually disregard the heritage of the open space of this place.

From the early Native Americans to the first white settlers, people came here to enjoy the bounty of the land: trappers’ pelts, salmon and fowl, timber and later the rich agriculture lands.

As we reaped the bounty, young families thrived and a community emerged.

This is our community and our natural beauty — our opportunity to be visionary.

Tom Quigley, Woodinville

The goal of USPS is to create more advertising mail. To newspapers that count on advertising to pay reporters and cover the news, this new venture is beyond alarming. Many think it will push some newspapers — already made fragile by the economy and the Internet — over the edge. If that happens, it is the communities across our country that will feel the most long-term harm.

People have a love-hate relationship with advertising, whether in the newspaper or in the mail. When advertising helps them find deals or shop smartly, they love it. When it doesn’t happen to scratch the shopping itch, they may not like it so much. But most people understand advertising drives the economy and it brings other intangible benefits, like paying the bill for news coverage that keeps communities informed.

On every level, advertising is highly competitive. Local, regional and nationally, newspapers compete with a growing field of ad media, from Internet to television and door hangers to direct mailers.

But now the Postal Service wants to pick winners and losers in this market. It is providing postage rebates to Valassis of more than 30 percent if Valassis can divert more ad inserts into direct mail from newspapers.

Not everyone can play. The discounts can be offered by Valassis only to large national retailers. Newspapers cannot get the same discount for their own mail because they can’t sign one national postage contract, as the direct mail company did, with USPS.

Neither can a small clothing or bookstore or a hairdresser or auto parts shop.

We — the newspaper and our small businesses — are all local.

This deal is only for the big guys. For the little guys, USPS has another advertising plan that enables businesses to bring unaddressed advertising directly to the post office.

What’s wrong with this picture? It is that USPS isn’t a business. It is owned by Uncle Sam. It exists to serve all. It shouldn’t be picking winners and losers in any marketplace. It shouldn’t be competing with and undercutting its stakeholders, which are all of us.

It should deliver the mail that exists, promptly and affordably.

One of USPS’s big goals is to carry even more advertising, as the Internet saps away letters and bills.

But we have to ask ourselves: Does America need a federally-owned advertising service? This newspaper says no.