A huge thank you to everyone who braved the snow and cold to attend the Mount Si High School Jazz Band fundraiser at Boxley’s on Jan. 17.

We were able to raise more than $2,000 to help these kids represent Mount Si and the Snoqualmie Valley at the Savannah Music Festival’s Swing Central High School Jazz Band Competition & Workshop in Savannah, Ga., in late March. Earlier in the day, these young musicians spent three hours rehearsing with and learning from Wycliffe Gordon, jazz trombonist and current faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Gordon was sent from Swing Central to do a clinic in advance of the festival. He was a brave soul himself, driving from Battleground to us during Snowpacolypse 2012! A big thank you to him for his gift of time and talent. In addition, and as always, Boxley’s Danny Kolke (and his family) opened their doors not only for the morning session (since the schools were closed) but also for a warm place for good food, good music and fundraising. We are so lucky to have Boxley’s and all that they do as part of our community.

Thanks again to all who supported these kids. This is an expensive trip (roughly $1,000 per person).

If you were unable to make it but would like to support us, you can still make a tax-deductible donation either online via PayPal at www.jazz-attheclub.com (click the “Donate” button on the left menu) or by sending a check payable to MSHS Band Boosters, P.O. Box 92, North Bend, WA 98045. Please put “Swing Central” in the memo line. We have less than a month left to raise funds.

Jane-Ellen A. Seymour

MSHS Band Boosters Board

What a place

It was midnight Jan. 13 when the truck I was driving from Eastern Oregon to Puyallup lost power. I knew I was in trouble and decided to take the next and last exit to North Bend before it completely shut down.

Traveling with a 2-year-old and 5-week-old to visit my folks, this panicking mom called her husband, who she left behind several hours and miles ago. He informed her the alternator was failing and she had better find a hotel fast. Just then the truck died on Main Street near the railroad tracks. Fortunately for me, after Googling lodging on my smart phone I was .1 miles from the North Bend Motel.

The kind gentleman answering the phone told me there was a vacancy and he drove his car to meet me, chauffeuring two crying children and a desperate mom to his motel. He even unlocked the door and turned the heat on for my arrival. A little later I received a phone call from Deputy Tim Langan asking my room information (my husband called police notifying them of the disabled vehicle’s location).

Langan said he would make sure the truck was secured and in a safe place, but to my surprise and overwhelming gratitude, he unloaded my entire truck — suitcases, food, port-a-crib, coats, kid toys, etc. — reloaded them into his patrol car and brought them to me. He said he wasn’t sure what I would need and he wanted my things to be safe. Talk about above and beyond!

The next morning my truck was towed to Ron’s Auto Service, where they thoroughly charged my batteries after replacing the alternator and drove the truck to my location (all before check out time). The town and people of North Bend are amazing. An unpleasant situation was completely turned around because of the kind, caring people I met who went out of their way. Thank you to everyone who assisted me. To anyone who breaks down in the middle of the night on a road trip — make sure it’s near this town!

Leanna May

La Grande, Ore.

For example, there are many city councils and school boards around the state that still think it’s OK to spend a couple of days at a resort for an annual retreat of council members.

Even if participants pay for their own rooms, the costs get higher than need be.

The size of a city or its budget should matter when it comes to setting a good example.

We wholeheartedly believe City Council members need time together for less formal talks to get better acquainted and to set annual goals for themselves and the city administration.

Keeping the retreats local not only makes it more available for interested citizens and city employees to attend and listen, but also keeps city costs to a reasonable level.

North Bend City Clerk Susie Oppedal said the total cost of the City Council retreat held Jan. 27 at Boxley’s restaurant was just $568.86. This included a continental breakfast and lunch for 17. The city didn’t even bring in a facilitator.

We expect the cost for the Snoqualmie City Council retreat was very similar, held at the city’s fire station meeting room Jan. 30-31.

Choosing to keep costs at a minimum is responsible government at its best.

Spending money at local businesses gets another round of applause.

A hearty “thank you” to the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA for its generous hospitality in assisting with emergency shelter at the Snoqualmie Community Center during the recent storm and power outage. Our partners at the YMCA welcomed more than 150 people for “day-warming” over the course of the storm and 10 families overnight.

This outage affected our entire community, local businesses and residents of all ages. We have learned in years past that snow, ice, wind and power outages can be a serious disruption to routine life and to our citizens’ well-being and sense of security.

With this in mind, the Snoqualmie Community Center includes capability to be used as a temporary day-warming center and overnight shelter as needed, including installation of an emergency power generator and kitchen facilities.

YMCA staff opened their doors to all residents of the Snoqualmie Valley, not just to YMCA members.

All were welcome to use the facility to get warm, take showers, charge cellphones, have their kids play, and assess their situations in a calm and helpful environment. This allowed them to be close to their homes to monitor their property, check on pets, and get clothing and supplies as needed. People were able to have shelter without leaving town, thus avoiding treacherous roads.

The selfless actions of the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA staff during this event were further confirmation that the YMCA of Greater Seattle is focused on assisting our community in spirit, mind and body.

Mayor Matt Larson

City of Snoqualmie

Nursing home residents are thankful for giving, support over holidays

The Mount Si Transitional Health Center would like to thank the people of the Snoqualmie Valley for all of their wonderful gifts, volunteer efforts and support graciously provided over the holidays.

A special thanks to the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club that coordinated the giving trees, collected all of the gifts and helped make sure everyone had something to unwrap. Thanks to all of the locations throughout the Valley that hosted the giving trees.

And to the churches, organizations, individuals and families that caroled, volunteered their time and donated gifts. We would also like to thank Gary Weisser, who visits us yearly as Santa, and Snoqualmie Elementary School, which helped brighten our doors with festive posters.

Many things happen to make the holidays a special time at the nursing home. The residents and staff are thankful for being part of such a giving and supportive community. Thank you from all of us at the Mount Si Transitional Health Center.

Carrie Jensen, activity director

Mount Si Transitional Health,

North Bend

Lesser violent crimes and property crimes would remain confidential.

The bills are bad ones, and should be stopped.

When a juvenile commits a serious crime, nobody involved takes the matter lightly. From the prosecutors to the courts, to the media that reports on crime, everyone weighs the value of punishing an individual against the needs of society.

The policy at SnoValley Star is to report the names of juveniles only when they are charged with a felony. We did not arrive at this policy lightly. We’re glad to say it is infrequent that we come across minors charged with felonies. We do understand the implications when we choose to publish the name of a minor. But we stand by the public’s right to know.

If you were the victim of a string of home burglaries or neighborhood arson fires, you’d want to know who did it. We believe you’d want to know regardless of whether it was an adult or a teen — especially if the suspect lived next door.

It is just as important to ensure that the wrong people are not accused of a crime. Too frequently, the school-based gossip mill implicates an innocent person. Reporting in the media can make clear who is actually the suspected criminal.

Juvenile defense attorneys are asking the Legislature to rewrite the law because the publicity can have a negative impact on the lives of children once they reach adulthood.

Certainly, a person should not have to suffer their entire life for a crime they committed when they were minors. But this proposal (Senate Bill 6292 and House Bill 2542) to restrict access to court records goes too far.

The public needs to understand what is happening in their community and who is doing it.

Restricting access to juvenile court records goes too far toward protecting the individual over the community as a whole.

We need a new utility around here. Where else in the country do 300,000 customers regularly lose power and heat during a typical weather event? Here, it happens every few years and is considered business as usual by Puget Sound Energy.

We need a utility that performs regular, routine and preventative tree maintenance, to trim and cull potentially harmful branches and limbs to avoid catastrophe. PSE rakes in its profits, waits for a catastrophe, herds in a few extra workers, and expects to be seen as a hero when power and heat finally return to its beleaguered customers.

No doubt PSE will whine to the Legislature for a rate hike due to its “extraordinary” efforts during the storm, and also, ironically, to pay for the ensuing lack of gas and electricity usage by its customers during this time.

Our local co-op, Tanner Electric, as usual, worked most efficiently and admirably. We can always count on it. When we phoned in for updates, we spoke to a human being. PSE could learn a great deal from Tanner’s model.

Kathy Swoyer

North Bend

“Support your local business” takes on new meaning when your city becomes a frozen wasteland for three or four days.

While homeowners were struggling to stay warm without power, business owners were wringing their hands over the lost business. Restaurants and markets were particularly hard hit as food went to waste without proper refrigeration. Employees, too, suffered the loss of wages. It was life interrupted, not a fun week.

This week, we can try to make it a bit better for each other. Tip your waiter or other service provider just a little extra. Be sure any purchases you make are done locally to help businesses recoup the lost revenue.

Don’t forget to say thank you to those who are helping out. Offer a cup of coffee to the utility workers repairing lines or clearing trees. Let them know they are appreciated.

This is the Snoqualmie Valley, where neighbors help neighbors. With the usual thoughtfulness for the other guy, we’ll be just fine.

And thank you, cities

Special thanks to the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie for quickly setting up storm debris collection sites. North Bend will allow drop off at its public works yard this weekend, and Snoqualmie will collect tree limbs both this weekend and next.

Thanks also to Republic Services (formerly Allied Waste) for its assistance.

There is no doubt that the sooner the fallen debris is cleaned up, the sooner we can put this past week of stress and challenges behind us.

Slim Randles Columnist

Dud Campbell had been quiet for almost an hour, which brought concern to his wife, Anita. Dud isn’t the strong, silent type. He’s more like a quick, noisy type. After an hour had gone by in silence, he picked up a sheet of paper and began taking notes.

“Dinner’s pretty soon, Hon,” Anita said.

“Can’t eat now. Uh, can I have something later, maybe?”

“Sure. Hey, you OK?”

He nodded, then went for the coffee pot. He gave Anita a hug on his way back to the table.

There is nothing wrong with the good people living in Chelan and Kittitas counties, and they even have a few things in common with the Snoqualmie Valley. Both regions share the Cascades and its numerous recreational opportunities. But that’s about it.

Apparently, we will now share a representative for the new 8th Congressional District, per the new boundaries drawn by the redistricting committee.

Many would think that redistricting to balance populations would create compact, geographic districts with similar demographics. No. The committee’s real job is to protect incumbents and the two-party system.

If the Snoqualmie Valley wants to be on the cutting edge of elk management practices, then why not consider the alternative “herd control” methods tried by our neighboring areas?

The Toutle River Valley successfully relocated 50 elk to the Nooksack Valley. Toutle officials there coordinated with two helicopters and volunteers on the ground to herd the animals into a corral and then transport them to other areas.

The city of Sequim recently received a state grant to fit their elk with GPS collars with “virtual fence” capability. When alerted, volunteers will be called on to drive the offending elk away from designated areas. Sequim is also seeking funds from the state Legislature to purchase high fences that will protect sensitive areas.

If relocation of some of our Valley elk isn’t feasible, why not consider the proven immuncontraception vaccination, which uses PZP proteins to surround and block sperm from reaching the unfertilized egg? According to the Humane Society of the U.S., this contraceptive was developed more than three decades ago and can be administered by hand or in a dart, and it lasts two or more years.

Also, time-released pellets can be given to stimulate annual boosters. This vaccine has reportedly been used to successfully reduce the deer populations on Fire Island, N.Y., wild horse populations in the West and wild elk in Point Reyes, Calif.

Recognizing that elk are a real problem in our Valley, I believe that we must learn how to co-habitat with these magnificent animals — not kill them. If you agree that we need a better plan, contact your local officials and conservation groups about setting up a relocation or immunization program.

Patricia Yolton

Snoqualmie

Thank you, everyone

As members of the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank board of directors, we are grateful to the community for your contributions in 2011.

Whether your contribution was as a volunteer, financial gift or food donation, it went a long way to serve our community.

Whether it was a small contribution or a large one, it is appreciated very much.

Thank you.

As a ministry of the Snoqualmie Valley Ministerial Association, the food bank not only is grateful to our community for the generous donations, but we are thankful to God for his great provision.

We look forward to the opportunity of serving our community in 2012. Again, thank you very much.

Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank board of directors

Great tool to use to teach students bus evacuations!

Suzanne

Re: Memory of police officer’s killing still lingers in Snoqualmie Valley after more than 60 years

I am Leah Fitzgerald’s great-niece and I would like to thank you for the article in your paper. My aunt is 95 years old and one heck of a lady.

We have been going through her old photos and have so many old photos. This story just happened along at the right time.

I just want to say thank you so much. Born and raised in the Snoqualmie Valley, it is nice to see family recognized in its history!

Sincerely,

Christy Charbonneau-Wright

Re: Last Valley stop for a ‘Wonderful’ ride

Of course I loved this article. My daughter got to share her grief with Zuzu. We always watched this movie every Christmas and love it to this day.

Thank you, Zuzu, for giving love to my daughter. Her brother was her best friend.

 Love, Pat Hanner (Matt’s mom)

It has been nearly 20 years since the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the restriction of marriage to opposite-sex couples would be presumed unconstitutional. In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court held that same-sex couples must receive the same benefits as married couples. Subsequent court decisions have held that “civil union” laws would not suffice, calling instead for marriage equality.

Many countries — including all of the Canadian provinces — now allow gay marriage. In the United States, six states and the District of Columbia now accept gay marriages.

In 2009, the Washington Legislature approved a bill granting domestic partners the same rights as married couples, so long as those rights did not conflict with federal law. Voters approved the measure in a referendum later in the year.

The time is right to put the gay marriage law on the table. It will already be at the forefront as a topic of the presidential race. Washington will further the discussion as Gregoire’s bill is debated in the Legislature. While there is no guarantee the bill will pass, we believe it is a natural next step — from equality in benefits to a legitimate view in the eyes of the law.

While many citizens do believe the sanctity of marriage should be limited by law to the union of a man and woman, we also believe the populous has become more accepting of same-sex partnerships. What real difference does it make to anyone outside of the marriage partners whether or not the marriage is legitimized through state law?

We understand that there will be churches that will not accept a same-sex marriage, no matter what the law says. Religion comes with the freedom of belief. Church leaders should be able to choose whether or not to perform a same-sex marriage. That is their right.

Even if the governor’s bill is passed, we expect it will be challenged. It’s healthy discussion that will eventually get us where we want to be — an accepting community that welcomes diversity.

In an effort to encourage local support for local charities, the SnoValley Star created Fund for the Valley, which began last month.

The annual drive strives to address hunger and emergency financial aid for Snoqualmie Valley families doing their best to get ahead. This year’s recipient is the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank.

“The mission of the SnoValley Star is to make a difference in the lives of its readers,” Publisher Debbie Berto said. “Fund for the Valley will make it easy for those who want to join us in making a difference.

“Only 501(c)(3) charities will receive the money, making contributions tax-deductible.”

Many Valley residents contributed to the fund, and we thank you for your support. The fund collected $3,695. It is indicative of the generosity of the Valley.

Thank you to the fund’s contributors:

Deborah Gardner

Marie Williams

C.J. Kusiak

Rebecca Inzerella and Michael

Heidy

Anonymous

Ron Shoff

Hansen Therapeutic Services Inc.

Jane and Edwin Benson

Anonymous

Marc and Rosalie Aikin

Wendy and Keith Hennig

Elsie Graves

Mary and John Knepper

Michelle and Jerome La Rocca

Willie, Peggy and Austin

Wiseman

Paula and Dave Wright

There is still time to contribute to Fund for the Valley. Donate by mailing checks to Fund for the Valley, c/o SnoValley Star, P.O. Box 2516, North Bend, WA 98045.

Web comments

 Re: Redistricting splits Snoqualmie Valley between two

congressional districts

Splitting the Snoqualmie Valley into two legislative districts makes no sense to me either, and neither does including Chelan County in a King/Pierce county district.

We in the Wenatchee area do not share the same landscape, climate or economy as the Snoqualmie Valley, and we sure as hell don’t want to be represented by a Republican from Auburn, either.

The Cascade Curtain exists. Respect it.

Alan Moen

Snoqualmie Hospital District. Too many decisions are being made in the dark with only rubber stamping from commissioners. The district must make its policy-making process open to the public by posting public documents online, giving ample notice of meetings, and posting meeting agendas and minutes in a timely fashion.

Tourism, community events. North Bend has led the charge by adding several events to the Valley, including the Warrior Dash and the cinema festival. Snoqualmie has supported the Cinco de Mayo Half-Marathon. Both cities continue to improve on their marquee events — Railroad Days and the Festival at Mount Si. Both cities should continue these efforts wholeheartedly, and put a worthwhile amount of money into marketing them both in and out of the Valley. These days, tourism is the best bet for much-needed economic development.

Transportation. There is often a clash between residents and tractor-trailers around the former Truck Town area in east North Bend. The City Council must consider planning changes. We know just the person to lead the effort — newly elected Councilman Ryan Kolodejchuk, who made the issue a key part of his campaign.

County infrastructure. King County doesn’t have enough money to repair its roads and has to all but abandon some. The county should put projects out to bid and temporarily ease some of its own regulations that add to the cost of road work.

Snoqualmie Ridge retail. Right now, motorists on Snoqualmie Parkway see nothing distinguishing the core of the Ridge’s retail sector. The proposed art sculpture at the entrance is a good start, but Ridge businesses need more support if they are to survive. The city might offer incentives to attract a bigger destination retailer.

State budget. State employees should share a greater amount of the cost for their health benefits. The divide between salaries for private sector and public sector employees has been greatly reduced, but public employees still enjoy overly generous health insurance plans. The state and our local school district should also embrace the idea of reducing the school year by four days, provided there is no change in the number of education hours.

Marijuana. Put this debate to rest. There are no good arguments for keeping it illegal. Legalization will bring better control and will help the economy. Meanwhile, North Bend should lift its ban on medical marijuana gardens.

School leadership. The Snoqualmie Valley School District must listen to more community voices without fear of presenting a disjointed front. With school cuts looming statewide it is important that new ideas be welcomed. Inventiveness can save not just a few dollars and cents, but jobs and resources.

Get acquainted. One of the great things about the Snoqualmie Valley is its sense of community. Many people already know their neighbors, but there are many newcomers who have not yet gotten involved. Everyone benefits from a friendlier, safer, well cared-for community.

The SnoValley Star strives to serve as a forum for earnest community conversation. We could not do this without participation from you, our readers. We want to thank the people who took a few minutes to write a letter to our editorial page during the past year. Thank you for sharing your passionate voice.

And please keep those letters coming in 2012!

Kim Arellano

Nancy Baker

Herschel Backues

Scott Barnett

Busby family

Philip Cassady

Stacey Chellis

William Combs

David and Lisa

Cook

Jeri Cranney

Joe Crecca

Jim Curtis

Rick Davies

Ron Denaro

Barbi Donovan

Ilse Dujmovic

Heidi Dukich

Dave Eiffert

Art Farash

Josiah Farrell

Nancy Flanagan

Alan Fletcher

Tamara Franklin

Art Galloway

Lanice Gillard

Rick Grant

Cheryl and Steve

Hanson

Bill Hayden

Mark Hennig

Sally Busby Hill

Kim Horn

Sandy Horvath

T.J. Hoving

Sheila Hunter

Stephen Kangas

Steve Kowalsky

Rev. Jan Larson

Matthew R. Larson

Jan Van Liew

Chris Lodahl

Mitch Lucas

Brent Lutz

Tina Maloney

Kit McCormick

Gail A. McCullough

Frank McFadden

Leslie Moon

Mount Si Gay

Straight Alliance

officers

Denis Morrison

Brian Murphy

Dotti Newton-

Denaro

Ron and Chris

Pedee

Liz Piekarczyk

Ruth Posey

Jon Pulsipher

Jim Reitz

Riley, Snoqualmie

Middle School

student

Chris Schotzko

Aimee (Rhynalds)

Sherrill

L. Silver

Carolyn Simpson

Wes Sorstokke

Thomas Som

Mike Thompson

Lorraine Thurston

Andrea Toomey

Lucy Watts

David Willson

Eric Yotz

Charles Zeder

Jenny Zinke

Slim Randles Columnist

We watched the fence growing, growing even as the snow fell, and there was bile and envy oozing from several pores in town.

This was the rich guy’s fence. The rich guy and his wife moved to our quiet little town to spend weekends. Their real home is two hours away in the city. He owns a factory or store or something down there.

But here they bought that five acres on the edge of town and had people from the city come up and build their vacation home. They paid the builders to stay down at the Empress Motel while they worked, too.

Well, the house was finished toward the end of summer, and they’ve been up here several times since. Seem like nice enough folks.

But the fence .…

The rich guy had no fence around the five acres, you see, and he had no firewood.

So he decided to kill two birds with one stone and have some firewood cutters build a firewood fence, about four feet high, around his little country estate.

So we watched, as load by load the fence grew — first across the front of the property and then turning a corner to go back toward the rear of his property.

A firewood fence. Dud did some figuring down at the Mule Barn the other day. Dud always was handy with figures.

“As I see it, he has one fireplace in that whole house,” Dud says, “and he doesn’t need it to heat the house. They had a propane furnace put in.

“So, if he burns that fireplace continuously every weekend during winter, figuring winter lasts until about April, give or take, I figure it’ll take him 93 years to run out of fence.”

Those of us who cut and haul our own wood, and use it to heat the house, at first said nasty things about the rich guy. This fence was really gilding the lily, of course.

But then we started taking friends from out of town to see it.

“You think you’ve seen a fence?” we’d say. “I’ll show you one for the books.”

Brought to you by Marqcom Media. Visit www.slimrandles.com.

The economy seems to be picking up steam, but things are still tight for many families. In Snoqualmie Valley, most residents still have presents under the tree or near the menorah.

Now is the time to remember those in greater need than you. It doesn’t hurt that it is also the end of the year, a good time to assess your finances and your tax bracket to determine your ability to give.

Valley residents as a whole are among those in a position to share. We have no doubt that most in the area are generous with what they have.

For Valley families making donations, the only real question is which charity to support, which one can make a real difference in the lives of others.

These agencies do good work helping others help themselves. We recommend local tax-deductible donations to:

Fund for the Valley — A fund set up by the SnoValley Star to support local charities. This year’s recipient is the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank. Donate by mailing checks to Fund for the Valley, c/o SnoValley Star, P.O. Box 2516, North Bend, WA 98045.

House of Hope — This privately-funded shelter for homeless women with children transitions families into stable housing situations. Along the way, the women learn the skills they need to succeed. It is run by Mamma’s Hands, a Bellevue-based group. Donate online at www.mammashands.org, or mail donations to Mamma’s Hands, P.O. Box 40464, Bellevue, WA 98015-4464. Make your checks payable to “Mamma’s Hands.”

Hopelink — Food, shelter, homelessness prevention, child development, transportation and adult literacy education. Donate online at www.hope-link.org. Mail checks or drop off food donations to 16225 N.E. 87th St., Suite A-1, P.O. Box 3577, Redmond, WA 98073.

Once the holiday gifts are unwrapped and the winter vacation is over, take a few minutes to count your blessings and consider a year-round gift to community neighbors nearby.

Slim Randles Columnist

When it’s cold, build a fire in the fireplace, or the woodburning heater, or maybe just light a candle and look in the flames, look deep in the flames for the answers.

I’ve always believed they are there, and this time of year is a time for questions. It is a time to weigh the events of the past year and toss them around and ask why.

It has been a good year for each of us in some respects, and a bad year in others. Just like every year.

A few of our young people died this year. Others were born. Some precious old-timers left us, too, but at least they’d had the chance to hang and rattle and turn gray. It was the young ones that make us ask the tough questions.

But there were also the beautiful things that happened this last year. People went out of their way to help others. People tried valiantly to better themselves. Some did it by studying a foreign language. Some did it by taking wood shop at the community college. Dewey did it by managing to get acquainted with his dream woman. Doc held another of his unique golf tournaments to raise money for winter clothes for kids. The old Miller dairy got pulled down. Many of us were worried about kids playing in there and getting hurt. It really wasn’t safe any more. And while we’ll miss seeing it out there, with that big tobacco ad painted on its roof, we’d miss having those kids around even more. You make decisions and hope for the best.

There were some new homes built this year, and Steve has been spending more and more time in his cabin up in the mountains not too far from Jasper Blankenship’s mining claim. Steve just needed a hole-up spot. A place where a cowboy can go and no one can kick him out. And so our world says goodbye to another year and we’ll hope the next one is better, and it probably will be. Life brings the good and the bad together at this time of year and helps us wash our lives with a laugh and a tear and a dollop of forgiveness.

Brought to you by Slim’s award-winning advice book “A Cowboy’s Guide to Growing Up Right.” Start your year off right at www.nmsantos.com/Slim/Slim.html.

With the demand for toys increasing since 2009, the kindness and generosity of the people in the Snoqualmie Valley has shown brightly this holiday season. The Snoqualmie Valley Toy Drive doubled the toys received from the past two years combined! Hundreds of terrific new toys were collected including four brand new bicycles to benefit the Kiwanis Giving Tree.

A special thanks goes out to Deputy Amy Jarboe for all her hard work in expanding the toy drive to the King County Sheriff’s Office in North Bend and hosting a special visit from Santa Claus.

We appreciate the Sheriff’s Office allowing her to use their facilities to collect so many toys.

Thanks to everyone who contributed wonderful gifts this year. While you couldn’t see the smiles on their faces, you can be certain that you made a little girl or boy happy this Christmas and helped a family in need.

Thank you so much and have a wonderful holiday!

David and Lisa Cook

North Bend

How is killing humane?

The editorial of your last issue (Dec. 15) proclaimed “Hunting elk is a humane solution.” One might wonder just what exactly is humane about killing unsuspecting wildlife. Perhaps gunning them down is more humane than poisoning, strangling, or starvation, but I would think even more humane solutions might include tranquilizing or trapping and relocating.

Alert TPC golf officials declared fence-building impossible when they realized a fence would need gates. But, thankfully, the executions will be left to the elite “Master Hunters” who can shoot straight and have done 20 hours of work to benefit wildlife. These elk must be exterminated, else golf as we know it will reach extinction.

Rev. Jan Larson

North Bend

Hold up the hotel

This is a call for action. Rush hour is coming to North Bend. Sound the alarm for Forester Woods, Uplands, Harmon Heights, Southfork Road.

Let’s boycott that hotel application until we get another access road to the other side of I-90 between Snoqualmie Casino and North Bend. Write to your Congressman.

Stop the project until we can get across the freeway. We already get pinned in because water at Forest Woods floods our sole access road.

One year we had to cut the fence to get out.

Save our children from starving, dying from lack of medical care, getting lackey jobs because of lack of education, due to the lack of transportation.

Flood the hearings with vitriol. Throw it in the face of the developers and the greedy city. Unite ‘Other Side of I-90.’

Sheila Hunter

North Bend

Controlled hunting of the elk is the best option left at this point. This page has consistently stood for conservation but that is not a concern in this case.

Club officials have tried other measures, even having an employee stay on the course during the night to scare away the elk, but these measures have failed.

The club is losing money. Its value is in its golf course, which elk are tearing up. It is not simply an issue of aesthetics, but of a potentially significant economic loss.

The state-run Master Hunter Program will conduct the hunt in a safe and humane way. It will be controlled and careful. The goal is to kill two or three elk in the hope of discouraging others from visiting the golf course.

Snoqualmie Valley’s elk herd is large with more than 400 head. They have found comfortable living close to the Valley’s recent residential developments, where they have plenty of food and few predators. As a result, their population has rapidly grown during the past 10 years. Their numbers do not need to be protected.

Some in the community object to controlled hunting, saying that the elk were here before Snoqualmie Ridge. But the herd was much smaller when the golf course was developed. There was no conflict then.

Human development has helped the Valley’s elks.

But there is a bigger question that remains unresolved: Sprawl. How much should humans be permitted to develop in currently undeveloped areas?

The answer doesn’t matter for the Ridge. It has already been almost entirely built. The answer matters for the next potential development. If we want to avoid shooting elk for trampling a golf course, we must commit to creating more density in already developed areas.

What in the world is the district thinking? The Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, once again, has sign a long-term multimillion-dollar contract. For what? Why a new hospital, of course. All our problems will be solved if we just have a new hospital. Wow! What an easy fix.

I guess I don’t understand. I’ve heard that the hospital is operating in the black. Sounds like the old hospital is perfectly adequate for the services rendered. Other than stiffing the residents for millions of dollars, and guaranteeing the long-term employment of the administrative staff, what is the point?

If the present hospital is operating in the black, sounds like the major problem has always been marketing. Well, the commissioners didn’t ask for the public’s input. Indeed, the contract with the builder has been signed (at 7:30 in the morning last week), so once again, it’s too late.

Guess we’ll have to wait a few years for this hospital to fail, and then the district will ask for more taxes and they’ll be turned down, again.

What a merry-go-round.

Herschel Backues

North Bend

It is time for the candidates — the winners and the losers — to back up their campaign promises with action.

It is easy to be cynical about the disparity in government between what is said in stump speeches and what is done after the election, to assume that it must pervade all levels of government. But happily, local government often offers a refreshing break from the birthright of politicians — hypocritical, self-interested behavior.

The winners of races in the Snoqualmie Valley face daunting challenges. Infrastructure maintenance and economic development are among the chief concerns this year.

Every candidate for City Council in North Bend and Snoqualmie promised voters they would offer sound fiscal leadership while trying to spur economic activity and keeping city roads in working order.

Given the outlook for the local economy — as morose and gray as the region’s late fall weather — it is doubtful that anyone could deliver on all of those goals.

With both cities passing conservative budgets, city leaders must choose their goals wisely. Projects should never be undertaken simply because construction costs are down or a grant is available.

That is like buying something simply because it is on sale. Saving money on a purchase doesn’t matter if you don’t need the item in the first place.

With municipal resources limited, cities must focus their work on what is most important. (And make headway on other priorities as much as possible.)

Slim Randles Columnist

When Pop Walker sneaked out the kitchen door the other day, it affected all of us. He’s been a resident of the Rest of Your Life retirement home for several years now.

He still remembers who said what during combat in Europe, but has a hard time remembering if he’s had breakfast.

The call went out down at the sheriff’s office around 10 p.m. that Pop had slipped through the enemy lines, meaning the kitchen staff, and was on the loose. One of the deputies called Doc, who was a friend of his since forever, and Doc alerted the rest of us.

Pop is one of our own, of course. A couple of years ago, he took his coffee black and his philosophy straight at the philosophy counter at the Mule Barn.

It was cold, and they found his heavy coat still in his room, so this wasn’t good.

The deputies checked out the interstate and volunteers hit the all-night diners to see if he’d checked in there.

No luck.

The cook at the home was crying, and she said Pop had been talking about going to see his buddy, Jasper, again, and did we know someone named Jasper?

Sure. Jasper Blankenship, up at the cabin in the mountains. When we heard this, the hunt actually took more form.

Two guys started up at Jasper’s place and worked down the road. Steve and Dud both went on horseback and started from the edge of town.

Steve found him. Pop was sitting and shivering under a tree high up on a ridge.

Steve used the cellphone to let us know he was all right, and then built a fire and wrapped a blanket around Pop.

Pop wouldn’t go back until Steve told him Jasper was down at the home, waiting for him. And Steve let him ride in the saddle, too. But before that happened, Steve ducked off behind a rock and made another phone call, to be sure Jasper would be there.

Two hours later, everyone had coffee and doughnuts back at the home, and they fixed the lock on the kitchen door. We have to be careful with those who have problems. We can’t afford to lose beautiful people like Pop.

Brought to you by Slim’s award-winning book (and stocking stuffer), “A Cowboy’s Guide to Growing Up Right.” Learn more at www.nmsantos.com/Slim/Slim.html.

State lawmakers are trying to close another budget gap — a $1.4 billion shortfall this time. Gov. Christine Gregoire has floated a couple of ideas that would impact education to deal with the budget crisis.

One idea is a half-penny-per-dollar increase to the sales tax, which state legislators and voters must approve to be enacted. The new revenue would be targeted for education.

Another idea to help local school districts deal with looming budget cuts would be for the state to reduce the required number of school days per year. We like the idea, although we acknowledge that it could be a burden for working parents who have to pay for more child care — or would it?

State law currently requires kindergarten students to have no less than 180 half days per year. Students in grades one through 12 must have at least 180 separate school days.

But take a closer look. Another state law requires districts to provide at least 1,000 hours of instruction time for students in grades one through 12 and at least 450 hours for kindergarteners.

Gregoire’s proposal to drop the 180 days per year down to 176 days would not reduce the average total hour requirement.

It shouldn’t be that hard to squeeze 1,000 hours into four fewer days. Let’s do the math. Divide 1,000 hours by 180 days and you average 5.55 hours per day. With 176 days, the average day is 5.68. That’s an increase of eight minutes per day.

The advantage is the savings for the Snoqualmie Valley School District in utilities, transportation, and wear and tear on facilities. There could also be salary savings in some support staff, from the lunchroom cooks to the front office.

Smaller class sizes and quality education are the priority, not the number of days students get on the bus.

To all of the readers who saw the article in the July 14 Snovalley Star, the walking miracle, Misty Si, the 14-year-old black Lab found after 54 days, is doing great.

Misty Si now weighs 65 pounds, eats regular meals, wags her tail and wants to go on walks with us. In this season of thanks, hope, faith and miracles, she represents the best in all of you. Allan Landdeck found Misty on July 4, and she was near death after walking around lost for 54 days. Allan picked her up and carried her down to a house in North Bend.

A wonderful woman named Jackie cleaned her face and called our home to tell us Misty had been found.

We owe so many people a big thank you for all they did to get Misty healthy. Dr. Winnie Peng, with the Alpine Animal Hospital, gave Misty the first emergency care July 4. Dr. Terry Weronko, with the Snoqualmie Valley Animal Hospital, slowly nursed Misty back to her normal self — day after day with special care.

Jackie still comes to see Misty and brings her special treats. Terry Busby, Diane Pobal and Kim Howard still dog sit Misty when needed.

This Valley is known for many things, but for all of you who looked for Misty, put up signs to help find her and called us to ask about her, thank you — you are the miracles — and this Valley is lucky to have so many good people living here.

I am a Valley girl, with a Valley dog, and I am proud to live here.

Cheryl and Steve Hanson

Snoqualmie

Our thanks are extended to the community for their attendance and for many wonderful event partners and volunteers. Many “invisible hands” were also there to help.

All of the people who helped were part of an event that entertained close to 500 audience members, raised more than $2,000 for the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank and started us on the way to a new annual Snoqualmie Valley event. Each one of them made it happen and they are to be congratulated for a job well done.

Mark Hennig

Mark’s Pet Pals, owner

In recent years, voters have decided that the Legislature needs a supermajority to raise taxes — essentially taking that option off the table.

If the initiative process is here to stay, one vital change should be made. All ballot language must include the financial impact.

Since 2000, we, the voting people, have decided that teachers need to be paid more, class sizes need to be lower, we don’t want to pay license tab fees of more than $30, we won’t pony up an extra couple of pennies for tax on a candy bar or bottle of water, and the latest, that people who provide care for senior citizens or the disabled should receive more training.

They are, generally, worthy ideas. Who is against lower taxes, smaller class sizes, cheaper candy or more training for Grandma’s caretaker?

Nowhere in any of these initiatives does it mention the cost. With a tax hike off the Legislature’s table, mandating more money for one program means taking it from somewhere else.

The fix for this is simple. Any initiative should state explicitly what the impact is to state or local budgets. These explanations should be both in the text of the initiative and in the voter’s guide.

Material backing up the presented facts must be presented to the Secretary of State for verification before the initiative goes on the ballot. Further, a summary of the financial impact, verified by a budgeting agency, must be included in the voter’s guide summary, both pro and con.

For too long, Washington voters have used the initiative process as a way to dream up and implement nice-sounding ideas completely detached from the reality of paying for them.

If initiators truly believe in their ballot proposal, they should have to do the financial homework and present it to the voters.

The Wildcats volleyball team took sixth place in the state tournament for the second consecutive year. Senior Sarah McDonald was named the Most Valuable Player for the 3A KingCo Conference. Coach Bonnie Foote again earned the coach of the year honor from her colleagues in the 3A KingCo Conference. Year in and year out, Foote has taught her players to persevere when faced with adversity or a bad break.

At its best, high school sports teach life lessons and leadership skills that remain with players long after they have left the playing field. Mount Si’s coaches excel at that mission each season.

Volleyball wasn’t the only team to go to the state tournaments. Mount Si’s football team and girls soccer team each advanced to state. The teams got there thanks to the hard work of the players, coaches and supporters.

Team supporters and boosters deserve recognition as well. Where would high school sports be without parents taking athletes to and from practices and games? Or the community’s fundraising efforts to buy equipment and pay travel expenses school budgets can’t cover?

A team’s success is something the entire community can celebrate. It is, after all, a reflection of that community’s commitment to its youth.

And dedication is so important for student athletes. Without it, Mount Si’s Bailey Scott would not have finished 41st in the state cross-country championship.

It was a great season for Mount Si High School, but ultimately, the success of a school’s athletic program is determined by the character of its student athletes, not the number of banners in the gym.

This year, Veterans Day will be especially meaningful for Snoqualmie Valley residents. The Snoqualmie Valley Veterans Memorial will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, 2011.

The monument honors the Valley’s veterans and pays a special tribute to those young men and women who went to war and did not return. There are more than 70 names on the memorial stone.

Around the stone sit 10 large rocks, one from the Valley’s cities and larger communities. For years to come, the rocks will keep a silent vigil around the memory of the fallen.

The monument has been many years in the making. It is the product of long hours and support from all across the Valley. It is being dedicated because Valley residents have not forgotten their fallen neighbors.

The men and women on the memorial stone gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, but service need not be limited to joining the military.

Everyone can serve their country and their community. The first step is to get involved, make a commitment and follow through.

That is what Rodney Boalch did during World War II. The North Bend native joined the U.S. Navy and was training to be a naval aviator when he died in a training accident.

If people like Boalch can give their lives in service for their country, the rest of us can give an afternoon once a month.

Service shouldn’t be a hair shirt, either. No doubt, Boalch loved the thrill of flying before his fatal accident. So find a way to give back that sparks a passion inside you.

As the executive director of the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Foundation, and speaking on behalf of the foundation board, we are honored to offer an enthusiastic endorsement of Karyn Denton for hospital commissioner!

Karyn has earned trust and respect of the employees of the district, citizens of the community, as well as the foundation with her professionalism, poise and wise counsel.

The employees, volunteers and citizens of this district deserve a representative that is engaged in positive discussion and direction from the healthcare leadership in our Valley.

Kim Arellano, executive director

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Foundation

 Recent mailings and editorial letters disparaging Snoqualmie Valley Hospital compels me to respond to the small-minded opinions of Gene Pollard and his election support.

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is in no way a nursing home! In 2008, I spent five weeks as an inpatient after a life-threatening car accident.

The treatment and physical rehabilitation I received was extremely high quality. It consisted not only of clinical competence, but of genuine care and concern over my well-being and recovery.

Each and every individual with whom I interacted, whether physician or nursing staff, right down to facilities staff, made me feel the patients are the reason they serve at our local hospital.

Without Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, I would have required a long stay in Harborview, which would have been extremely inconvenient for my family, much less personal and resulted in much greater expense.

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital welcomed me on discharge from Harborview, where the trauma surgeons saved my life. I am able to attribute my 100 percent recovery to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital and its excellent team, which includes physicians, nursing staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc.

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is a vital part of our ever-expanding Snoqualmie/North Bend/Fall City community providing needed healthcare close to home and convenience to numerous Valley residents and their families.

Mr. Pollard conveniently ignores the fact that the hospital is financially healthy and a growing organization that cares deeply about the patients and families it serves.

Apparently, Mr. Pollard is only concerned with hospital finance and not patients, quality patient healthcare or the future needs of our community.

Please join me in voting for Karyn Denton in the upcoming hospital commissioner election.

Barbi Donovan

Snoqualmie

Time to upgrade our school board

In response to certain claims made by Ms. Stedman in her recent letter, it has become clear to our residents that the incumbent school board directors are not representing either all communities across the district, or even their own resident communities.

If our incumbent directors were effective in serving all of our communities at-large, then they would be laser-focused on addressing the most important concerns of our students, parents, teachers and taxpayers districtwide.

This includes halting the increasing class sizes since they’ve been in office; lowering our student drop-out rates (highest of any Eastside district); increasing our on-time graduation rates (lowest of any Eastside district); solving the wide-spread assaults that take place in our schools and buses; increasing the number of students taking the SAT/ACT tests (among the lowest on the Eastside); and joining other school boards who are pressuring the state to restore funding.

They would not be appearing to have private meetings out of the public eye in violation of state law, dismissing student safety incidents, placing bond proposals on the ballot that are so whacky that when defeated they diminish prospects of future bonds passing when we really need new schools built, and residents would not be required to file a Freedom of Information Act to obtain information from them.

The incumbents are not representing their own local area residents, either, as they gerrymandered the school director boundaries to protect their incumbent seats, deny Snoqualmie resident director representation and break up North Bend’s communities of mutual interests.

Yes, it’s time for an upgrade of our school board. We need directors who have time to invest in the role, unburdened by full-time jobs. Directors who are willing to make operations much more transparent, communicate more effectively with us, who can develop a strategic plan whose priorities drive our budget and are focused on stakeholders.

We parents, teachers and taxpayers have an opportunity to add the clarity, candor and competence that Geoff Doy, Peggy Johnson and Carolyn Simpson will bring to the board, so please look at their websites and speak with each of them.

Stephen Kangas

North Bend

Snoqualmie needs representation on the school board

I have heard so many people from North Bend and Fall City say the Snoqualmie Valley School District School Board members represent all of the children in the Valley. I’ve also been told “We don’t need anyone from Snoqualmie on the school board.”

Are your children going to four different elementary schools? The kids in Snoqualmie are. Do you have a middle school? (One that is getting state wide awards to boot.) Snoqualmie’s middle school is being dissolved and we will not have one. The kids in Snoqualmie will be bused to Fall City or North Bend.

Snoqualmie is the fastest growing city in the state of Washington per the 2010 census. Carolyn Simpson has lived here during that growth. She’s had two kids that have graduated from this district and are now at the University of Washington. She knows firsthand what our districts needs are. And she’s willing to fix what’s broken.

I read Mr. Popp’s quote, “I believe the city of Snoqualmie leadership is putting property developers first. They need to put children first.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Snoqualmie City Council is currently working with the school board. And I can assure you, Snoqualmie is a family-oriented city that puts the needs of our children first.

The current SVSD school board members reside in Fall City, Redmond and North Bend (three from North Bend). Carolyn Simpson will help balance our school board, which will be a benefit to our district and our children.

If you’d like to see some balance on the school board, vote for Carolyn Simpson. I’ve known her for years and have personally worked with her on many projects here in the Valley. She’s done amazing things for our SVSD students’ growth, development and academics. She is the only person from Snoqualmie that is running and will definitely work for the best interest of all of the kids in the Valley.

We have an opportunity to have an A+ school board. I am voting for Simpson and Geoff Doy. And trust me — I have done my homework.

Lanice Gillard

Snoqualmie

It is based on the assumption that the Legislature has run amok, bending rules on road tolls and taxes.

Voters should hold their elected representatives accountable, and highway tolls shouldn’t be abused by the Legislature. But Tim Eyman’s I-1125 isn’t the way to do either of those things.

I-1125 limits road tolls to funding of a single specific project.

So, if tolling for the new state Route 520 bridge shifts traffic to Interstate 90, causing it to slow to a crawl, drivers will just have to slog through it. There will be no money available for congestion relief on I-90, and tolling I-90 just to return some balance between the two bridges is also out.

I-1125 says tolling rates must be determined by the Legislature, not an appointed commission. We prefer depoliticizing the decision.

It also slips in a little wiggle that stops light rail from expanding across Lake Washington via Interstate 90.Most of all, the Eastside voted to fund light rail from Seattle to Bellevue and beyond. If it is off the table, do we get back our share of taxes already paid?

I-1125 is misleading at best, convoluted for sure. Vote no.