Letters
February 8, 2012
Thank you, everyone
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
Letters
February 1, 2012
Thanks to YMCA for emergency shelter during storm
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
Letters to the Editor
January 25, 2012
Power company needs work
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
Letters
January 18, 2012
Alternative methods for controlling Snoqualmie Valley elk herd
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.
Letters
January 11, 2012
Re: The rapping bus driver
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)
Letters
January 4, 2012
Fund for the Valley
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
Letters
December 21, 2011
Heartfelt thank you to Snoqualmie Valley residents
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.
Letters
December 8, 2011
Why do we need a hospital?
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
Letter
November 30, 2011
Thanks for the help
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
Donations help food bank
November 25, 2011
I would like to share with your readers about a special event that happened in the Snoqualmie Valley on Oct. 28, called Night on a Dark Trail — a seasonal event tied to Halloween for the enjoyment of Snoqualmie Valley residents with donations helping our neighbors in need at the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank.
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
