Letters to the editor June 29, 2011
Published on Wed, Jun 29, 2011Read More Letters
Thanks for helping your hands
To the gentlemen and female employee in the meat department of Costco and mostly to the lady who put her purse on the floor to remove the basket from on top of me to help me to my feet after “blacking out” in the meat department of Costco on the afternoon of June 14, I want to say “thank you.” Sorry I was unable to say “thank you” at the time, but hope you will read this in the Gazette and know I appreciated your help. Thank you to each of you.
Rosemary Bond
Port Angeles
A kind gesture
Last Thursday (June 23) while traveling west on Washington, my car decided to take a rest at the stop light in front of Home Depot. Most folks that passed around the dead car must have thought that old heap probably breathed its last. Well that old heap wasn’t dead, it just had a run-down battery. I received many kind offers to help push the car off the road but I was too proud to accept. It’s a guy thing!
Finally after trying everything I could to get it cranked over, I swallowed my pride and accepted an offer of help from a young couple who promptly got behind and pushed the car off the busy street. It turns out that where they pushed me had a slight grade to it so I put the car in gear and popped the clutch and off I went, offering a wave of thanks to the young couple. I felt badly that I didn’t get a chance to give them a proper thanks so here it is. If you are the young couple that helped me and you are reading this letter, please contact me at 477-0517. I owe you a ride in the rumble seat. Yes, you guessed it, it isn’t an old heap but rather a 1929 Ford Model A classic coupe complete with rumble seat.
All the folks that offered help that day really gave me pause to be thankful that I live in Sequim and it signifies the depth of the American spirit which is to lend a helping hand to your fellow citizen. Thanks a heap and God bless you. Those who drove around without offering help, I apologize if I caused you any inconvenience. God bless you, too.
John Coughlin
Sequim
Rosales has heart
Many people in Sequim are aware of the generosity of spirit which motivates Steve Rosales. For some, this is a stimulus to do better themselves. Unfortunately, others see his openheartedness as a threat to their modus operandi. For example, Steve’s wanting to open the food bank an additional day to alleviate hunger annoyed some who might have been responsible to be there an extra day. Steve has a beautiful wife and children at home with whom I am sure he would like to spend more time but his call to duty to help others makes this sacrifice. We are blessed in this community to have such a benevolent and magnanimous person as Steve Rosales.
Suzanne Fleming
Sequim
We had no say in change
As a mother of a student in the choir program at Sequim Middle School and a member of Choir Boosters, I appreciated your article on Stephanie Clark (“For choir, such sweet sorrow,” page A-16, June 22). It should be noted that the school made this decision without the input of the parents or the Boosters Club.
One of the reasons I was comfortable with moving to Sequim was the choir program. I am disconcerted by the way this was handled and am quite concerned that the choir program will not be maintained at the level to which it was taken by Ms. Clark. Although Ms. Clark will continue to support the program through private lessons, it should be noted that many families in this community do not have the means to provide private lessons for their children.
Rena Zimmerman
Sequim
A ‘chance’ encounter
After work the other morning, I saw a teenager wearing a full-frontal American flag.
I approached the young man and asked him if it was legal for him to wear the American flag.
He got a scared look in his eyes. I smiled and thanked him for showing off the American flag.
My ancestors that fought in the American Revolution are asking if we are “One Nation, Under God,” or what?
The look of fear in this young man’s eyes tells the unfolding story.
Recently at the U.S. Open, NBC let us know that being “One Nation, Under God” is “Not By Chance.”
Meeting this young patriot was for me, by chance, and under God.
Dirk Coburn Johnson
Sequim
Bring change, but with moderation
In last week’s Sequim Gazette (Letters to the Editor, “Impact of new homes is real,” page A-14), Greg McCarry, a real estate developer with Westerra Homes, tried to justify a reduction in the city’s hard-won impact fees by making several misleading arguments. He implies that stimulating building will increase income to the city. This is simply not true; quite the opposite in fact. He states that city receives $23,600 per home, suggesting this is somehow a gain for the city.
The reality is this money reimburses the city for water and sewer hookups, permit processing, home inspections, etc. There is little if any profit to the city. None of this money pays for roads or parks which are needed because of the development (hence the need for impact fees).
Study after study shows that the city’s portion of real estate, sales and other taxes from each home and occupant doesn’t come close to reimbursing the city for its cost of services to that home. In the long run each new home represents a nice profit for the developer and a serious burden for the taxpayer.
He intentionally confuses gross proceeds with profit or net gain. He cites an example that 50 new homes generate $1.42 million in revenue. Even if this were true, it’s a poor bargain for the taxpayers if they have pay more than this in services to these homes — and they do.
He states that each new home generates four new jobs. If these were permanent, that would be great. But they are very short term and their financial impact quickly dissipates.
He states that Sequim must either grow or stagnate. This is absolutely not true. Europe has many thriving cities
which haven’t grown for decades. But they do change with the times. Gradual change, not residential growth, is what Sequim needs.
Ted Miller
Sequim
(Miller is a Sequim City Councilor)
Who exactly is brain dead?
On June 22 (“GOP can’t offer much in 2012” Sequim Gazette, page A-15) we have the usual mental health diagnostician telling us that the opposition is brain dead.
In 1785, Thomas Jefferson learned Tripoli was capturing our ships and holding the crews for ransom, under the rationalization that:
It was written in their Koran that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was their right and duty to make war on them whenever they could be found and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners.
As Joseph Wheelaw noted in “Jefferson’s War: America’s First War on Terror, 1801-1805,” this is directly out of Surah, Chapter 47 of the Koran.
And Obama, raised in Indonesia, and with a Muslim father, didn’t know this?
In 2009, the White House sent up a trial balloon suggesting the nation could save $540 million a year by requiring injured war veterans to pay
their own rehabilitation costs.
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson, Third District
Texas, led in shooting down this proposal, calling it absurd, abhorrent and unconscionable. This was not a holder from previous presidents, but an omen of Obamacare. It was reported in the March-April 2009 issue of The Graybeards magazine of Korean War veterans.
Two hundred fifty thousand new jobs a month? Tell us more how you detect the deranged.
Robert W. Robinson
Sequim
Ready for the ‘silly season’?
The liberal letter in last week’s Sequim Gazette (“GOP can’t offer much in 2012,” page A-15) from a nut in Nevada City, Calif., is an indication the silly season has arrived. You will see many more letters like it between now and November 2012. You will be able to recognize them because they will be full of Democrat talking points, name-calling, vindictive invective, myth-perpetuating slogans, venom-laden phrases, factual inaccuracies and outlandish insults.
The letters typically state or imply Republicans or conservatives are stupid, inept or your enemy. The same are blamed for whatever problems. Democrats are absolved from responsibility. Your true enemy is the BS contained in the letters. Liberal writers take advantage of readers’ lack of knowledge about the subjects they distort.
The antidote to their mind-poison is to educate yourself on important issues so you can recognize the BS when you see it. To counter the lies about the current economic debacle in last week’s letter, read “Reckless Endangerment,” by Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner. Liberal policies are at fault.
Additionally, the writer said the economy is improving. Does Clallam County’s unemployment rate of 11.6 percent and next to zero home construction sound like improvement to you?
Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” The people who can be fooled are the ones Democrats concentrate on. Don’t let yourself be one of them.
Peter Heisel
Sequim
To the gentlemen and female employee in the meat department of Costco and mostly to the lady who put her purse on the floor to remove the basket from on top of me to help me to my feet after “blacking out” in the meat department of Costco on the afternoon of June 14, I want to say “thank you.” Sorry I was unable to say “thank you” at the time, but hope you will read this in the Gazette and know I appreciated your help. Thank you to each of you.
Rosemary Bond
Port Angeles
A kind gesture
Last Thursday (June 23) while traveling west on Washington, my car decided to take a rest at the stop light in front of Home Depot. Most folks that passed around the dead car must have thought that old heap probably breathed its last. Well that old heap wasn’t dead, it just had a run-down battery. I received many kind offers to help push the car off the road but I was too proud to accept. It’s a guy thing!
Finally after trying everything I could to get it cranked over, I swallowed my pride and accepted an offer of help from a young couple who promptly got behind and pushed the car off the busy street. It turns out that where they pushed me had a slight grade to it so I put the car in gear and popped the clutch and off I went, offering a wave of thanks to the young couple. I felt badly that I didn’t get a chance to give them a proper thanks so here it is. If you are the young couple that helped me and you are reading this letter, please contact me at 477-0517. I owe you a ride in the rumble seat. Yes, you guessed it, it isn’t an old heap but rather a 1929 Ford Model A classic coupe complete with rumble seat.
All the folks that offered help that day really gave me pause to be thankful that I live in Sequim and it signifies the depth of the American spirit which is to lend a helping hand to your fellow citizen. Thanks a heap and God bless you. Those who drove around without offering help, I apologize if I caused you any inconvenience. God bless you, too.
John Coughlin
Sequim
Rosales has heart
Many people in Sequim are aware of the generosity of spirit which motivates Steve Rosales. For some, this is a stimulus to do better themselves. Unfortunately, others see his openheartedness as a threat to their modus operandi. For example, Steve’s wanting to open the food bank an additional day to alleviate hunger annoyed some who might have been responsible to be there an extra day. Steve has a beautiful wife and children at home with whom I am sure he would like to spend more time but his call to duty to help others makes this sacrifice. We are blessed in this community to have such a benevolent and magnanimous person as Steve Rosales.
Suzanne Fleming
Sequim
We had no say in change
As a mother of a student in the choir program at Sequim Middle School and a member of Choir Boosters, I appreciated your article on Stephanie Clark (“For choir, such sweet sorrow,” page A-16, June 22). It should be noted that the school made this decision without the input of the parents or the Boosters Club.
One of the reasons I was comfortable with moving to Sequim was the choir program. I am disconcerted by the way this was handled and am quite concerned that the choir program will not be maintained at the level to which it was taken by Ms. Clark. Although Ms. Clark will continue to support the program through private lessons, it should be noted that many families in this community do not have the means to provide private lessons for their children.
Rena Zimmerman
Sequim
A ‘chance’ encounter
After work the other morning, I saw a teenager wearing a full-frontal American flag.
I approached the young man and asked him if it was legal for him to wear the American flag.
He got a scared look in his eyes. I smiled and thanked him for showing off the American flag.
My ancestors that fought in the American Revolution are asking if we are “One Nation, Under God,” or what?
The look of fear in this young man’s eyes tells the unfolding story.
Recently at the U.S. Open, NBC let us know that being “One Nation, Under God” is “Not By Chance.”
Meeting this young patriot was for me, by chance, and under God.
Dirk Coburn Johnson
Sequim
Bring change, but with moderation
In last week’s Sequim Gazette (Letters to the Editor, “Impact of new homes is real,” page A-14), Greg McCarry, a real estate developer with Westerra Homes, tried to justify a reduction in the city’s hard-won impact fees by making several misleading arguments. He implies that stimulating building will increase income to the city. This is simply not true; quite the opposite in fact. He states that city receives $23,600 per home, suggesting this is somehow a gain for the city.
The reality is this money reimburses the city for water and sewer hookups, permit processing, home inspections, etc. There is little if any profit to the city. None of this money pays for roads or parks which are needed because of the development (hence the need for impact fees).
Study after study shows that the city’s portion of real estate, sales and other taxes from each home and occupant doesn’t come close to reimbursing the city for its cost of services to that home. In the long run each new home represents a nice profit for the developer and a serious burden for the taxpayer.
He intentionally confuses gross proceeds with profit or net gain. He cites an example that 50 new homes generate $1.42 million in revenue. Even if this were true, it’s a poor bargain for the taxpayers if they have pay more than this in services to these homes — and they do.
He states that each new home generates four new jobs. If these were permanent, that would be great. But they are very short term and their financial impact quickly dissipates.
He states that Sequim must either grow or stagnate. This is absolutely not true. Europe has many thriving cities
which haven’t grown for decades. But they do change with the times. Gradual change, not residential growth, is what Sequim needs.
Ted Miller
Sequim
(Miller is a Sequim City Councilor)
Who exactly is brain dead?
On June 22 (“GOP can’t offer much in 2012” Sequim Gazette, page A-15) we have the usual mental health diagnostician telling us that the opposition is brain dead.
In 1785, Thomas Jefferson learned Tripoli was capturing our ships and holding the crews for ransom, under the rationalization that:
It was written in their Koran that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was their right and duty to make war on them whenever they could be found and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners.
As Joseph Wheelaw noted in “Jefferson’s War: America’s First War on Terror, 1801-1805,” this is directly out of Surah, Chapter 47 of the Koran.
And Obama, raised in Indonesia, and with a Muslim father, didn’t know this?
In 2009, the White House sent up a trial balloon suggesting the nation could save $540 million a year by requiring injured war veterans to pay
their own rehabilitation costs.
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson, Third District
Texas, led in shooting down this proposal, calling it absurd, abhorrent and unconscionable. This was not a holder from previous presidents, but an omen of Obamacare. It was reported in the March-April 2009 issue of The Graybeards magazine of Korean War veterans.
Two hundred fifty thousand new jobs a month? Tell us more how you detect the deranged.
Robert W. Robinson
Sequim
Ready for the ‘silly season’?
The liberal letter in last week’s Sequim Gazette (“GOP can’t offer much in 2012,” page A-15) from a nut in Nevada City, Calif., is an indication the silly season has arrived. You will see many more letters like it between now and November 2012. You will be able to recognize them because they will be full of Democrat talking points, name-calling, vindictive invective, myth-perpetuating slogans, venom-laden phrases, factual inaccuracies and outlandish insults.
The letters typically state or imply Republicans or conservatives are stupid, inept or your enemy. The same are blamed for whatever problems. Democrats are absolved from responsibility. Your true enemy is the BS contained in the letters. Liberal writers take advantage of readers’ lack of knowledge about the subjects they distort.
The antidote to their mind-poison is to educate yourself on important issues so you can recognize the BS when you see it. To counter the lies about the current economic debacle in last week’s letter, read “Reckless Endangerment,” by Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner. Liberal policies are at fault.
Additionally, the writer said the economy is improving. Does Clallam County’s unemployment rate of 11.6 percent and next to zero home construction sound like improvement to you?
Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” The people who can be fooled are the ones Democrats concentrate on. Don’t let yourself be one of them.
Peter Heisel
Sequim
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• 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 may be shortened. 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.
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