Letters to the editor, Sept. 24, 2008

A good partner
The Sequim Gazette lives up to its mission as a community newspaper every week. But I am especially grateful for the effort and space devoted to helping to inform readers about North Olympic Land Trust's StreamFest. As the volunteer chairperson for this event, I start working with others almost as soon as StreamFest ends one year to start planning the next year's event. We want to do everything we can to make sure participants will have a great time and also gain inspiration and information for enjoying and taking care of our area's exceptional natural and cultural assets.

As we work, there's always this nagging voice in my head: "What if no one comes?" Wasting all the work would be unfortunate. But far worse would be losing the opportunity for people to learn while celebrating such special qualities of land the Land Trust and others work to protect. These include habitat for salmon and other wildlife, farmland, commercial timberland, clean water and air, scenic vistas, open space and cultural heritage.

The Gazette is a wonderful partner in informing people about StreamFest and other activities of the Land Trust and partnering organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals as we work toward shared goals.
We are grateful!

Robbie Mantooth
North Olympic Land Trust's StreamFest


Future depends on all of us
As a longtime resident of Sequim, I have been listening and reading peoples' opinions for a while, to say. One would think that a community that is focused on the well-being of all would be able to do what they set out to do. We have some great organizations out there to help. But it seems we tend to forget there is a need for young and old here.

I see areas of help for seniors and think that it is great to see they are addressed as we see a trend of older ones being put to the wayside. What I don't see is the younger ones getting all the help they need. If our Boys & Girls Club is in the deficit or our schools have to have oversized classes, you have to ask the question, "Are we as a community investing in our future?" To form a point of view one would really need to access what we as a community desire.

We are a family community and see it when out and about. So let us take the time to take care of all in our city and remember the future depends on all. You also have to remember, dear neighbors, if you took the WASL, you may not pass it above a "C" and our schools only get the funds from those who take the test. Our teachers might have a better chance of getting through to our students if their classes were not understaffed.

Lilli Hardesty
Sequim


Vote your priorities
I'm writing in response to the "election" letters in the 9/17 edition.

Change, the financial crisis, the war on terror, education, health care, taxes, immigration, drug smuggling, jobs, gasoline prices, the environment, border security and whatever else is of concern to you pale in the face of the immorality that surrounds not only the killing of the unborn but of the total disregard for infants who survive an abortion and are tossed aside to die in a garbage can.

Before you vote, give consideration to your priorities.  What or who is most important to you? Can any "thing" weigh more than life, the most precious of gifts? 

Jeanette Poeschl
Sequim


Carlsborg a charming place

My husband and I frequent the businesses in Carlsborg. We have always thought it was a charming place. As a matter of fact, we were thinking of buying a rental property in Carlsborg. But since the county may be allowing a crematorium, we are looking elsewhere. What is the county thinking? 

Dinah and Dale Bagby 
Sequim


Business is there when you need it
There has been much in the news regarding the proposed crematory in Carlsborg. Let's face it, the crematory would be a very low-profile business that would go about its service with little or no notice to the people in the area.

The owners will have to comply with EPA guidelines, which most crematories, even the older ones, far exceed the emission standards required. It is proposed to go into an industrial park. Look at the crematory in Port Angeles, it is across from the grade school. I do not see protesters over there, coffee houses are not trying to get people that come in to sign a petition for its removal.

Much has been said about mercury released in the air. According to the EPA, most of the mercury released in the environment comes from municipal incinerators, breaking of fluorescent tubes lamps, dental facilities, production and disposal of batteries, household trash disposal and residential heating. The operation of crematories is one of the lowest on the list. Check this site out to see more facts www.matthewscremation.com/pdf/Mercury_Emissions_&_Crem_Process.pdf.

So if the emissions are really a nonissue and it's going into an industrial park and previous rulings have approved its site, then why the continued appeals?

Do yourself a favor and compare the costs of services between funeral homes and it will become apparent what is behind this. All of us will have to deal with these services in the future. Wouldn't it be nice to have a choice as to where to go? I know of someone who signed the petition against the crematory and then had a death in the family. After checking costs of services, they ended up going to the funeral service they signed the petition about. Seems like no one wants a business like this until they need it.   

Kendal Wake
Sequim


The teleprompter issue
The 9-17 issue of the Gazette letters section reflected the event that occurs every four years at election time. The liberals have donned their negative attire as usual by heaping blame on President Bush, who is not running for election, and conservative candidates McCain and Palin. What one may ask about the do-nothing, Democratic-controlled Congress, who did achieve an approval rating of 9, accomplish? Answer - nothing! The liberals should start by blaming their own house first.

And now the liberals have a candidate for the oval office who has to have a teleprompter so he can read what others have written - and who bad mouths the United States, both at home and abroad.

One thing is obvious with the conservative candidate John McCain - he respects and loves America and the citizens living therein. I can vote for that.

Lee Jones
Sequim


Fuzzy logic
My rice cooker uses fuzzy logic with good results. Too bad you can't use a rice cooker to write letters. Four leftist political letters to the editor in last week's Gazette were full of fuzzy logic resulting in incorrect conclusions.

Sarah Palin, although she's a breath of fresh air, is not running for president. Comparing her experience to Obama is not appropriate, but when one does, Obama's experience is a joke compared to Palin. Palin has 12 years of elected public service, most of which were at the executive level. She has four years as councilwoman, four as mayor, two years as chair of an ethics committee and two years as governor. Obama was an Illinois state senator who voted "present" over 100 times and a U.S. senator for 143 days before he took leave to run for president.

John McCain's lifetime political experience and judgment far outweighs Obama's. Obama befriended terrorist Bill Ayers and America hater Jeremiah Wright, among others. Obama is also the most liberal U.S. senator.

A more appropriate comparison for Palin would be vice presidential candidate to vice presidential candidate or Palin to Biden. Biden has been a senator for 36 years and has no executive or "foreign policy" experience. Biden is a classic Washington insider from a tiny East Coast state and is part of the current "do nothing" Democrat-controlled Congress. Palin is chief executive of the nation's largest state and has put 10 corrupt Alaskan politicians and their cronies in jail. Alaska is 250 times larger than Delaware.

Scaring people by saying McCain is too old and will die in office is a classic tactic for people who can't argue with facts or logic. If you fall for that one, consider this information. Obama smokes and both of his parents died at an early age. Biden has had two death-defying brain aneurysms. If they both died in office, Nancy Pelosi becomes president. The thought of that circumstance is very frightening, indeed.
I can think of no better reasons to vote for McCain and Palin.

Peter Heisel
Sequim