Sammamish Forum May 23
May 23, 2012
Thanks for the help
On April 29th, we celebrated our seventh annual ARAS African Bike Drive by collecting 700 bikes plus parts bound for Africa. Read more
Sammamish Forum May 16
May 17, 2012
Ode to a pickup
A pickup truck is almost the only vehicle where you will find a bumper.
A pickup truck is almost the only vehicle where you will find headlights and tail lights positioned where cars in parking lots can’t smash them. Read more
Sammamish Forum May 9
May 10, 2012
Bring on the goats
I read your article about the goats in the Sammamish Review the other day. I am happy to see that the city will bring livestock in to do some landscaping. Although I don’t live near the locations where the animals will be used this summer, I like the idea that the price for their services is great, the animals can do a better job keeping vegetation levels down, and they are quieter than a lawnmower. I hope the goat-mowing program goes very well. Read more
Sammamish Forum April 25
April 25, 2012
Thank you, voters
A huge, huge thank you to the Issaquah School District voters for resoundingly passing the construction and maintenance bond last week!
It makes me extremely proud to serve in a community that values education and the future of its children so much — you are unparalleled in this state and nation. Read more
Sammamish Forum April 18
April 17, 2012
Reconsider water rate increases
On reading your editorial and Mr. Tom Shull’s letter (on water rate increases), I feel I agree with both of you totally.
I am writing to support both of your articles and feel grateful that some people are saying the right things in the face of injustice and arbitrary increase of rates. Read more
Sammamish Forum April 4
April 4, 2012
Water rate increases are too much to handle
In the Review’s article “Water Bills Going Up” (March 28, 2012), about the rate increases from the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, I was shocked to read that “the district has increased water rates by between 7 and 12 percent every year since 2007.” After a lengthy discussion with a member of the water district staff and reviewing the information that was used in the March 19 meeting, which is posted on the District’s website, I am still shocked. I do not understand how the district can justify consistently high rate increases for the past five years. These increases are significantly higher than inflation as measured in the Federal government’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). In fact, in 2009 the CPI was negative, but water rates went up 7 percent! Read more
Sammamish Forum March 21
March 21, 2012
Whose happiness
To writer Larry Davison who asked “whose happiness will be denied” in the debate of same sex marriage, the answer is quite simple. Those attempting to suppress others their equal rights will be the ones that must yield.?? Read more
Sammamish Forum March 14
March 14, 2012
The signs were an experiment
I am responding to the letter about off-leash dogs at Southeast Eighth Street Park. First, only one of the 10 off-leash signs were about off-leash dogs running along the fence line that was by my home which is 10 feet from the park trail.
The other nine signs were a temporary field study to see if educating people about protecting this pristine park would prompt them to leash their dogs. Read more
Sammamish Forum March 7
March 6, 2012
Chapin deserves it
To the author of “Another Deserving Name,” regarding the naming of 233rd Avenue after Officer Stan Chapin, please understand that I fully respect your opinion and your right to say what is on your mind.
As an Eastlake student, I strongly feel the word choice used in the letter (“Why does a person have to die to be recognized”) should have been chosen more carefully. These past few weeks have been incredibly sensitive and emotional for Sammamish regarding the loss of three significant members of our tightly-knit community.
Before I discuss how Officer Chapin was not only a huge positive influence in the entire community’s lives, I would like to comment on how close our school has become to support each other since his unfortunate passing. The very least Sammamish can do to honor this great man is name a street after him.
Yes, Don Gerend has truly put effort into making Sammamish a better place and is widely appreciated, yet Officer Chapin will be remembered for his tremendous efforts and positive impact on everyone as well. Yes, Don Gerend may have “had more to do with the traffic circle,” but the issue is not political, it is emotional and sentimental, which is why the letter gives off a cynical impression. Let us continue in our amazing and widespread efforts to honor Officer Chapin!
Yasmin Luqman
Sammamish
More off-leash parks needed
While walking my dog (on leash) through Southeast Eighth Street Park today, I noticed some signs someone had put up throughout the park. These signs pointed out why people should not let their dogs off leash in the park. The majority of the signs were about off-leash dogs running the fence lines and bothering neighbors. Ironically a dog in one of the yards bordering the park was the one running the fence line.
This brought something to my attention though. We live in an area that is suppose to be more liberal and cares about the environment. Yet we do not care enough to make sure our dogs have a good park to go to, run, and be off leash. Sammamish has one off-leash dog park that pales in comparison to all the other dog parks in surrounding cities. Just take a look at some of the surrounding dog parks. Marymoor attracts residents from far and wide, because Redmond chose to invest in its citizens. Yet, we choose to have our citizens drive further than necessary to exercise their dogs.
Even if you are not an “animal person,” can you deny that dogs are a part of our families? We need another dog park in Sammamish more along the lines of Marymoor in Redmond. A park like Southeast Eighth Street would be ideal in some ways (it is quite similar to Marymoor on a smaller scale), however I realize there are some restrictions to “developing” this park. So we need to start looking for a location that allows something to be done about this.
Sammamish has some of the best schools, the best neighborhoods, great parks for families, and is a great city to live in. Let’s make it an even better city.
Michele Pryor
Sammamish
Rights versus desires
As I read the author(s) opine, this week, regarding their desire for same sex marriage, I note differing interpretations in citing the founding documents to support a right to same sex marriage.
Mr. O’Connell referenced “Pursuit of Happiness“ arguing that the “Founding Documents” support same sex marriage.
The Declaration did say “Pursuit of Happiness“ but the meaning of “Happiness,” was also defined as property, at the time, so there is debate as to the meaning of Happiness.
There is no, defined, historical president in the Declaration that protects same sex marriage any more than there is for polygamy. If one’s pursuit of happiness is to deny same sex marriage and the other’s is to allow same sex marriage whose “Happiness” will be denied under the founding documents. Or where will one’s “Happiness” start and end.
The point is that all desires are not protected under the founding documents or there would be no limit to that slippery slope. How about the pursuit of happiness of those that demand polygamy or other desires born of love, why would they not be covered under the arguments tendered by the “church of the same sex faithful.“
My pursuit of happiness is denied by the limit of 350 words by this fair publication so I will limit my response to only one more of the distortions of the same sex prophets.
Patricia Martin, in defending the religious bigotry displayed in O’Connell’s attack on the Mormon Church for its stance on same sex marriage, cites “Separation of church and state,” to defend the same sex agenda.
I presume the intent was to reference the “Establishment Clause“ meaning the government may not “establish” a religion on the people, but the people are free to establish, and voice, a religion.
That freedom includes a right to dissent when it comes to same sex marriage just as it grants a right to support same sex marriage.
Larry Davison
Sammamish
Sammamish Forum Feb. 29
February 29, 2012
Another deserving name
Last week the local press reported a proposal to name a stretch of 233rd Avenue after Officer Stan Chapin, deceased, but there is an even more deserving person after whom this long-awaited traffic circle ought to be named.
Our former mayor and active Councilman Don Gerend, who was instrumental in bringing this access to Eastlake about. I have worked with him for many, many years on this issue, and while I know we all mourn the passing of Chapin, Gerend had more to do with this traffic circle than any other person in public service. Read more
