Library learning

Thanks for the very good article by staff reporter Dan Catchpole (“Learning Without Librarians,” May 27). The librarian’s job has certainly multiplied in complexity and importance since I was in school many years ago. To survive these days, young people must learn a broad set of skills — how to “look for, evaluate and create information,” as stated by E. Dresang of the UW’s Information School, in Catchpole’s article.

Librarians are the faculty best trained in the most up-to-date and effective information skills, and how to teach them to our children.

The evidence seems overwhelming that what librarians teach is indeed a core part of any school’s academic program, contrary to Assistant Superintendent McConkey’s assertion. With librarians removed from schools, the students will be living at a distinct disadvantage in today’s and tomorrow’s real world. We can only hope and trust that there will be an administrative reconsideration to reverse this fundamental and costly mistake.

Scott Seymour

North Bend

North Bend changing

Thanks so much to Bob Edwards for his commentary in last week’s Snoqualmie Valley Record.

When my children were little, I lived in Federal Way, and we’d come up to North Bend on the weekend to play in the field next to North Bend Elementary and look out at the mountains. Several years later, we moved to North Bend, and my children all attended North Bend Elementary.

What attracted us to North Bend was exactly what you said in your article — a small town placed in a wonderful area. I don’t understand all the excitement about regaining water rights and letting the developers and real estate practitioners grow our town.

Is there no one on the city council that speaks for those of us that wish to keep our small-town environment? Is there no one who is speaking out about the traffic and other issues we will have to deal with in the future with further expansion? Has anyone surveyed town residents to see if they understand the issues before us and if they want growth?

I also don’t understand the sudden push to annex new areas into our town. We’ve got along just fine up to now. Greed is what rules the day, and those who want to see our town expand see more money in their pocket by adding new development, new citizens and new business for business owners. Keep speaking your mind.

Ed Train

Huge turnout for bike rodeo

We just wanted to thank everyone that came to the Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo this past weekend. We had our largest turnout ever — rough estimates suggest that over 2,500 people came through the rodeo.

The Snoqualmie Police Department provided bike safety instruction for hundreds of kids and, if needed, we got them outfitted with new helmets.

Dirt Corps did a fantastic job checking every child’s bike to ensure that it was safe for riding this summer. They also provided many kids with safety instruction when riding in the Snoqualmie Bike Park, located off of Snoqualmie Parkway. Radio Disney was a huge hit and provided many kids with new safety gear sets, bikes, boards and fun prizes.

In five years, we have managed to become the largest bike safety rodeo in Washington. That is quite an accomplishment — one that we could never have attained without the support of parents and kids like you.

Remember to have fun, play fair and, more importantly, play safe this summer.

Remembering Tanner,

Laurie Gibbs, Christen Jeans, Brian Jeans, Jennifer Simon, Linda Jeans, Lanice Gillard, Michelle Virta

Board of Directors, Tanner Jeans Memorial Foundation

Thanks for the help

I want to express my thanks to a number of community organizations, businesses and numerous volunteers for assisting Just 4 Kids Early Learning Center survive as a local business after the flood in January. We moved back in May 4, after four months of flood damage renovation. Without the community’s help, this would not have been possible.

I would like to thank the Calvary Chapel in Snoqualmie and minister Marvin Torgeson for the use of two of their classrooms and kitchen. Their Christian generosity and the use of their facility allowed us to keep Just 4 Kids open and operational.

I’d also like to thank our renovation contractor, Jeff Fatheringill, of Fatheringill Homes, out of Mercer Island, and their lead project manager, Jeff Lancaster; the city of Snoqualmie, and their inspection team, Dan Thomason, John Cooper, and Andy, their inspector; and Jeremy Kennard and his cleaning crew from Serv-Pro.

And, thanks to the last group, the many volunteers — the Boy Scouts of Troop 70; members from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in North Bend; members of Church on the Ridge in Snoqualmie; local neighbors passing by who walked in to lend a hand; parents of the children of Just 4 Kids; and members of my staff.

Many hands made our work bearable. Words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude.

It has been a wonderful blessing to watch our community come together to help us in our hour and months of need. My special thanks to each and everyone for their assistance.

P.S.: To the community, if you are passing by Just 4 Kids, please drop by and check out our new look. The facility is beautiful.

Henriette Cranford

Snoqualmie