Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
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Sweet donations
I would like to thank the Sequim Food Bank for all the donations of goodies that we have received for our coffee bar. We serve coffee and pastry to a lot of veterans every day and it always is nice to have items to serve with the coffee. With help like yours, we are able to serve really good quality items to our veterans.
On behalf of all the veterans we serve, I would like to extend our thanks to everyone at the food bank for their time.
James Clendening
VFW Post 6787
Carlsborg
Good guys,
not villains
I am tired of my friends, my associates and myself being vilified because of our chosen profession. We sell a community, a community that we care about and live in. We chose to live here for the great quality of life we all have on the Olympic Peninsula.
We are raising children here, we coach Little League, football, soccer, etc. We are working to pay for our children in college and we are saving for retirement. We pay mortgages, rent, taxes - we shop locally and we donate money and time to local organizations and we go to church.
We represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, Rotary, Soroptimists, Elks, SNAP, Land Trust, Friends of the Fields, OTA and many more. We are good, kind people that have chosen to be proud members of the National Association of Realtors(r).
We are guided by the code of ethics, we work within the laws of federal, state, county and city regulations. We are trying to make a living and we are proud of what we do, and we will speak up and support politicians and other issues that will affect all of us, because we are part of a community and we care.
Liz Parks
Sequim
Appreciate those who serve
While I'm a big supporter of the Gazette and the work they do, I feel the recent editorial comments about Walt Schubert need a response. It often seems that elections bring out the worst in people as their passions take over their emotions and that gratitude toward those that have given their time to serve our community is forgotten.
I have seen Walt working tirelessly to support numerous organizations in this community and have never heard him boast or ask for accolades. I first met Walt when he came to a rather contentious school board meeting where the board, of which I was a member, was making cuts due to a school levy failure. I learned that Walt was not there to attack but to help find ways to restore any programs that he could. He was not a complainer but a doer. Walt and a small group started the
Sequim Education Foundation as a way to collect donations and save some programs for the district. Not only did he give countless hours to this organization but he gave monetary support as well.
I saw him work with Cynthia Martin to support her effort to turn a weed patch on school district property into a park. I have seen him on a cold day on a street corner playing Santa and handing out candy canes to the children of
Sequim. And where Walt is, his wife, Sherry, is often nearby donating her time, resources and cooking expertise for numerous charitable organizations.
No matter what political opinions one has - no one can deny all the efforts that the Schuberts have given to our wonderful community.
Elna Kawal
Sequim
Why indeed?
Why hasn't Congress fessed up about voting itself a pay raise for 2009, then denying a Social Security COLA for 2010?
Anne Olson
Sequim
Enforce it, don't reduce it
It appears that a miniscule number of petitioners have gained the attention of the (county) board of commissioners to reduce the speed limit on West Sequim Bay Road from 35 mph to 30 mph.
This road has been 35 mph for more than 10 years that I know off and in my research I can find no traffic accidents in the past 12 months. Hundreds of drivers use this mile-plus stretch of roadway and there also have been very few citations for speed issued.
So, the question is, why is a reduction in speed being considered for so few people without input from the many that use the roadway safely every day. If speed (above the posted limit) is a problem, enforce it; don't reduce it for the drivers that use the roadway properly every day.
Bob Lampert
Sequim
Equal rights are right
Why are people against equal rights?
Did you choose to be male or female, black, white, brown, red, green, whatever?
What makes people think that being around gays is contagious? Do you really believe that they choose to be gay? There are millions of straight parents with gay children, of which I am one, and there are many gay parents with straight children.
I did everything a straight father would do in raising my children, from sports to manly things, and yet my son is still gay. Should I feel guilty?
The church made me feel that way when my son first came out, as I felt ostracized by people I thought were friends. My wife still won't go back to church. Jesus taught us to love everyone unconditionally no matter what their status or condition. Now I find out my church, St Joseph's in Sequim, has a sign on their front lawn opposing Ref. 71: "Protect the children," like every gay is a pedophile or you become gay through osmosis.
What a crock!
You cannot pray away gay nor can you direct the course of your sexuality. You are hard-wired at birth and that's just the way it is, so why do we not extend equal rights to those who have no choice?
Keep marriage between a man and woman but if two people who have no choice want to make a commitment to each other for life and they call it civil union, why can't they have the same rights as the straight couple?
After all, the chances of them staying together are five times greater than the straight couple.
Brian Juel
Sequim
Get working
West Sequim Bay Road south of Whitefeather Way has been closed to through traffic for over three weeks. The intent was to bridge the road at the wetlands to allow easier access for salmon to swim into this area.
First: No construction or demolition has been done during this time.
Second: A native Sequim fisherman told us no salmon has ever been in the wetlands.
This nonexistent construction zone is a major inconvenience to residents along this road and might prove to be dangerous during the winter months as it forces all of us to use this unsafe highway.
Either the city of Sequim starts construction this week or removes all barricades until work does start.
Helga McGhee
Sequim
I would like to thank the Sequim Food Bank for all the donations of goodies that we have received for our coffee bar. We serve coffee and pastry to a lot of veterans every day and it always is nice to have items to serve with the coffee. With help like yours, we are able to serve really good quality items to our veterans.
On behalf of all the veterans we serve, I would like to extend our thanks to everyone at the food bank for their time.
James Clendening
VFW Post 6787
Carlsborg
Good guys,
not villains
I am tired of my friends, my associates and myself being vilified because of our chosen profession. We sell a community, a community that we care about and live in. We chose to live here for the great quality of life we all have on the Olympic Peninsula.
We are raising children here, we coach Little League, football, soccer, etc. We are working to pay for our children in college and we are saving for retirement. We pay mortgages, rent, taxes - we shop locally and we donate money and time to local organizations and we go to church.
We represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, Rotary, Soroptimists, Elks, SNAP, Land Trust, Friends of the Fields, OTA and many more. We are good, kind people that have chosen to be proud members of the National Association of Realtors(r).
We are guided by the code of ethics, we work within the laws of federal, state, county and city regulations. We are trying to make a living and we are proud of what we do, and we will speak up and support politicians and other issues that will affect all of us, because we are part of a community and we care.
Liz Parks
Sequim
Appreciate those who serve
While I'm a big supporter of the Gazette and the work they do, I feel the recent editorial comments about Walt Schubert need a response. It often seems that elections bring out the worst in people as their passions take over their emotions and that gratitude toward those that have given their time to serve our community is forgotten.
I have seen Walt working tirelessly to support numerous organizations in this community and have never heard him boast or ask for accolades. I first met Walt when he came to a rather contentious school board meeting where the board, of which I was a member, was making cuts due to a school levy failure. I learned that Walt was not there to attack but to help find ways to restore any programs that he could. He was not a complainer but a doer. Walt and a small group started the
Sequim Education Foundation as a way to collect donations and save some programs for the district. Not only did he give countless hours to this organization but he gave monetary support as well.
I saw him work with Cynthia Martin to support her effort to turn a weed patch on school district property into a park. I have seen him on a cold day on a street corner playing Santa and handing out candy canes to the children of
Sequim. And where Walt is, his wife, Sherry, is often nearby donating her time, resources and cooking expertise for numerous charitable organizations.
No matter what political opinions one has - no one can deny all the efforts that the Schuberts have given to our wonderful community.
Elna Kawal
Sequim
Why indeed?
Why hasn't Congress fessed up about voting itself a pay raise for 2009, then denying a Social Security COLA for 2010?
Anne Olson
Sequim
Enforce it, don't reduce it
It appears that a miniscule number of petitioners have gained the attention of the (county) board of commissioners to reduce the speed limit on West Sequim Bay Road from 35 mph to 30 mph.
This road has been 35 mph for more than 10 years that I know off and in my research I can find no traffic accidents in the past 12 months. Hundreds of drivers use this mile-plus stretch of roadway and there also have been very few citations for speed issued.
So, the question is, why is a reduction in speed being considered for so few people without input from the many that use the roadway safely every day. If speed (above the posted limit) is a problem, enforce it; don't reduce it for the drivers that use the roadway properly every day.
Bob Lampert
Sequim
Equal rights are right
Why are people against equal rights?
Did you choose to be male or female, black, white, brown, red, green, whatever?
What makes people think that being around gays is contagious? Do you really believe that they choose to be gay? There are millions of straight parents with gay children, of which I am one, and there are many gay parents with straight children.
I did everything a straight father would do in raising my children, from sports to manly things, and yet my son is still gay. Should I feel guilty?
The church made me feel that way when my son first came out, as I felt ostracized by people I thought were friends. My wife still won't go back to church. Jesus taught us to love everyone unconditionally no matter what their status or condition. Now I find out my church, St Joseph's in Sequim, has a sign on their front lawn opposing Ref. 71: "Protect the children," like every gay is a pedophile or you become gay through osmosis.
What a crock!
You cannot pray away gay nor can you direct the course of your sexuality. You are hard-wired at birth and that's just the way it is, so why do we not extend equal rights to those who have no choice?
Keep marriage between a man and woman but if two people who have no choice want to make a commitment to each other for life and they call it civil union, why can't they have the same rights as the straight couple?
After all, the chances of them staying together are five times greater than the straight couple.
Brian Juel
Sequim
Get working
West Sequim Bay Road south of Whitefeather Way has been closed to through traffic for over three weeks. The intent was to bridge the road at the wetlands to allow easier access for salmon to swim into this area.
First: No construction or demolition has been done during this time.
Second: A native Sequim fisherman told us no salmon has ever been in the wetlands.
This nonexistent construction zone is a major inconvenience to residents along this road and might prove to be dangerous during the winter months as it forces all of us to use this unsafe highway.
Either the city of Sequim starts construction this week or removes all barricades until work does start.
Helga McGhee
Sequim
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Letters Policy
Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words are returned to the writer for revision. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.
Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words are returned to the writer for revision. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.