Help in the flood
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the dozens of citizen volunteers for their efforts during the recent flood event in North Bend.
These caring people braved the wind and rain, filling sandbags at our Public Works shop, and then stacked the bags where needed around town. Each time the city has faced an emergency situation these last few years, you have stepped forward to protect your city, and efforts are greatly appreciated.
I also want to give special thanks to a few individuals and organizations for their extra effort during the storm, mainly Councilmember Dee Williamson and his wife Marty, Angela Barrus, and the congregations from the Cascade Covenant Church, Snoqualmie Valley Alliance, and the North Bend and Mount Si Wards of the LDS Church.
All of the volunteers have made me very proud of my community, and it is an honor to be your mayor.
Ken Hearing, Mayor
North Bend
A different place?
As one who has been born and raised in the Valley, I wanted to share with you a thought.
1970s: Beautiful warm sunshine day
Mom and two kids walking along shoulder of Mount Si Road, heading toward North Bend. In that day, maybe three to four cars pass you. Three cars stop and ask if you need a ride.
2008: Hard, steady rain, ground soaked with puddles
Mom and two kids walking along shoulder of Mount Si Road heading away from North Bend to their home, walking away from a mini-van with flashers going.
This day, the mom counts 26 cars passing by. Not one car stops to ask if we need a ride, nor do 20 of these cars bother to move into the next lane (passing safely for everyone), even when no one is coming from the other direction.
Oh… I forgot, in today’s world it is all about me.
Wendy Spear
North Bend
Tough times for port
This is a test: are you smarter than a fifth grader? The ports of Seattle want to add an 11 percent property tax. They see tough times coming. Wow! Longshoremen and the fine people who work our ports make a very good living. There is now less traffic at our ports, and it will decline— less work, less to do. Add it up. Are they now playing copycat and asking for a bailout, too!
Michael Murphy
Snoqualmie
