Cheers to Snoqualmie Valley Shelter Services, the area’s first and only emergency shelter serving residents experiencing homelessness. The shelter, which recently marked 10 years of service, held its Reclaiming Stability Luncheon on Sept. 15 with a goal of raising $135,000 to benefit the growing number of people in need.

Jeers to the wildfire smoke that choked the region’s skies last weekend. Just when we thought the summer had ended without one of these hazy smogfests, we were reminded once again about the “new normal” when it comes to the annual wildfire season. Also, it’s a little freaky when the sky is raining ash.

Cheers to the restoration of Tolt Avenue that will help revitalize Carnation’s downtown corridor and allow the city’s central business district to thrive. The project required a total of 13 grants to fund the $10 million worth of improvements to road, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and stormwater utilities, and required no funds from city taxpayers.

Cheers to Snoqualmie Valley Transit for offering shuttles at no cost to Valley residents ages 18 and under.

Cheers to a proposal that would make school meals available to all Washington students at no cost. Nutrition is crucial to proper learning, and for some students from low-income families, a school meal may be the best meal they get. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is calling for the Legislature to allocate $86 million each year to provide meals at no cost to about 330,000 students who don’t qualify for free and reduced-priced meals. Washington would join states including California, Vermont and Massachusetts in providing universal free meals to students.

Cheers to outgoing Carnation Mayor Kim Lisk, who officially resigned Sept. 1 with plans to move to Arizona after 28 years in Carnation. Lisk leaves a legacy of community service, whether it was volunteering for the senior center, Fourth of July Committee, the Chamber of Commerce or the other countless initiatives. Good luck on your next chapter.

Jeers to former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. You know why.

Cheers to the Seattle Mariners for finally fielding a playoff-caliber team. Lookin’ good, boys!

Jeers to the fentanyl crisis in King County and beyond. The drug is exponentially more potent and lethal than heroin — and is the primary culprit behind the spike in overdoses.

Cheers to Gov. Jay Inslee for lifting the state of emergency that was put in place at the start of the coronavirus pandemic nearly two and a half years ago. The original declaration, which was made in February 2020, gave the governor sweeping executive powers to shut down schools, mandate masks and more. It was justified at first. Now it’s time to return to “normal” governing in the Washington State Legislature.

Jeers to Gov. Jay Inslee for taking two and a half years to lift his pandemic-related emergency powers. The original declaration, which was made in February 2020, gave the governor sweeping executive powers to shut down schools, mandate masks and more. It was justified at first. Now it’s way past time to return to “normal” governing in the Washington State Legislature.

— By Andy Hobbs, Editor, Snoqualmie Valley Record