Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor

Where's the notice?

We have just been informed in regards to the proposed construction of a crematorium in the Carlsborg area. Our first concern is that we in the area knew nothing about the plans nor of the hearing on April 23 until that day, which was too late to change plans to be able to attend.

We also have considerable concerns in regards to the environmental impact in that area. Additionally, we are greatly concerned that the possible foul odors and health airborne contaminates could have a negative, dangerous impact, particularly due to the presence of an elementary school and a day care facility in the immediate area, which includes many, many children of our area.

We recommend further environmental study and another hearing so that all interested parties could voice their opinion, fears and be able to participate.

Thank you for your consideration.

William L. (Duke) Sparks

Gloria T. (Dodie) Sparks

Sequim



We're off to see the wizard

After watching rehearsals of my two munchkins for the upcoming play "The Wizard of Oz," I can't wait to experience what is sure to be a fantastic show. The time and effort the 42 young children have put into the munchkin scene is very impressive.

Obviously, I'm a little biased but then I saw some rehearsals of the other scenes. As with past operettas, the talent at Sequim High School continues to amaze me.

In addition to the hard work put into the production, there have been some remarkable fundraising efforts, including an incredible variety show, to raise money for some special flying equipment specific to this production.

It is going to be an awesome show, guaranteed to entertain.

Come see it at the Sequim High School auditorium on May 2nd (senior night), 3rd (kids' day), 9th, 10th, 16th or 17th. I know you'll be glad you did.

Karen Holtrop

Sequim





Take in a good show

It has been a great pleasure for me and my fifth-grade daughter to work with the Sequim High School cast and directors on the spring operetta, "The Wizard of Oz." This is a wonderful group of talented and hard-working teenagers. The production itself is an enormous undertaking, with a cast of over 80 (including the younger munchkins), requiring elaborate costumes, many changes of scenes and the added attraction of flying apparatus. To my knowledge, this is the first local production where members of the cast will fly over the stage; it is not something to miss! The cast has been tirelessly preparing for the six-performance run in May and it is sure to be a great show. Christy Rutherford and Robin Hall are remarkable directors who can transform our local talent into polished and professional actors. So come out and see the show, with three Friday nights and three Saturdays to choose from (including one matinee) you will not be sorry.

Ginna Bentley

Sequim



Ferry-induced

scrapes and scratches

On April 9, I rode the ferry to Edmonds in the morning and back to Kingston in the afternoon. On the way back, I saw crew members intentionally damage my vehicle, along with at least 30 and possibly 120 others. Some owners of those vehicles may read your newspaper. Here's the story in a nutshell.

After boarding, I stayed in my truck to rest. Suddenly, the truck shook and I heard banging and scraping. The cause of this commotion was two rather bulky crew members running down the line of parked vehicles. One ran between the two rows, the other ran between the vehicles and the inner bulkhead. They wore emergency outfits and carried long white cylinders. As they ran, they banged and scraped vehicles they passed. The noise was considerable, even in a closed truck from a distance.

With no idea what to do, I sat and did nothing. A few minutes later, two people - probably the same ones - came running back the way they had gone, banging and scraping vehicles as they went.

I forgot about the incident until a few days ago. When the weather cleared up, I noticed odd scrapes and scratches on my truck that didn't look like parking-lot damage. Then I remembered the ferry incident.

Almost everyone goes upstairs during the crossing, so they would have no idea that their vehicles were damaged, much less how it happened. But I saw it happen. As Paul Harvey says, "Now you know the rest of the story."

Jon King

Sequim



Port Angeles needs to dream

Six years ago we made our first installment on our retirement dream near Port Angeles. I still have to pinch myself to make sure it is real. I was born in the "middle of nowhere" Alberta, the second of seven kids to a mother who was blind. A large farm family was not unusual due to the chores and the workload of mixed-farming in the 1960s. As the second oldest, I always had to take the dirty jobs like stacking bales behind the baler or cleaning out the barn. I vowed that I would never be stuck on the farm. It took me six months after high school to convince my dad to sign off on my university application with the understanding that I was on my own. Between alternating periods of work and study, I finished my university 10 years later, with a family to boot. In the process I managed to avoid any debt. One thing that always remained consistent was that I had a dream and a vision to lead me through the impossible.

Port Angeles needs to catch a vision of what it could be. Look around at the oceanfront and the mountains that are the envy of the world. Why isn't there a "Banff Springs Hotel" or a "Lake Louise Lodge" up at Hurricane Ridge? There wouldn't be any need to quibble over keeping the winter road open. We have more natural beauty here than any "Whistler." Port Angeles has a waterfront that is underdeveloped. Why are Alaskan cruise ships passing us by? A strategic partnership with business and government needs to be engaged. Let's do some dreaming and realize the impossible.

Dan Abbott

Port Angeles



Restoring northwestern fisheries

Let's not wave the habitat flag suggesting that it will resolve Washington fisheries issues.

We must begin with uniform fishing regulations for all residents of Washington, independent of race or origin, with one enforcement agency to assure quotas, and catch record data is accountable and accessible from one database.

Destructive fish harvesting practices must be eliminated! Long line dragging is a habitat destroyer and other netting practices do significantly diminish our fisheries. As an example, gill netting in the entrance of the Dungeness River indiscriminately takes all species of fish and disregards which are wild and or hatchery fish. Another flagrant practice I witnessed was a net stretched shore to shore across the Hoh River hampering returning fish from the reproductive cycle.

Removing the Elwha dam is counterproductive if we continue in-stream netting the returning population of spawning fish. Legislative action is needed to protect all Washington streams from this practice. The Elwha dam should not be removed until such protection is in place.

Let's get real, we are in a state of excessive fish counting, erroneous data collecting and lack control and enforcement needed to regulate and improve our fisheries. The Department of Natural Resources needs a top down restructuring to encompass greater authority with all inclusive management responsibilities with improved accountability. Too much watching, not enough doing!

D. Albright

Sequim



Rethink 3-strikes law

Washington was the first state in the union to pass a "3-Strikes" law. Our law served as an inspiration and a model for approximately half of the states in the nation. It was considered the harshest in the nation. Since then, many states have seen fit to repeal or modify their similar laws after seeing the harsh ramifications of it. Crime of any kind is certainly bad news but second degree robbery and some second degree assaults are not considered violent crimes and yet remain on our list of strikeable offenses that can imprison a person for their entire life. In fact, they are the most common causes of life imprisonment under Washington's "3-Strikes" law. This law was promoted and enacted to keep the "worst of the worst" in prison. Approximately 280 people are currently incarcerated under this law; some 200 of them have been convicted of one, two, or three of these nonviolent crimes.

Shirley White

Port Townsend