Alumni breakfast locale helps with costs

Dear Editor,

 

This letter is in response to the letter written by Cheryl Peters questioning the venue change for the Granite Falls Alumni Breakfast on Railroad Days. 

There are a few reasons that the location for this event has been changed, and none of them have anything to do with Mayor Romack or his son.

Ultimately, this event was moved so that we could use it as a fundraiser to benefit our scholarship fund.  When our breakfast was held at the Eagles we were required to pay a per person charge, as would be expected at any restaurant. 

We began searching for a location that would donate the use of their facility and allow us to prepare our own meals so that we could add any profit to the scholarship fund. 

We currently charge $8 per person for the breakfast and we are able to prepare our own meals (which we have received very positive feedback on).  Once we have paid for the cost of the food, we are able to put the remaining money into the scholarship fund.  This fund allows us to continue the tradition of awarding two or more deserving members of the current graduating class monetary scholarships to the school of their choice. 

It’s unfortunate that Ms. Peters didn’t call the alumni board to inquire of this venue change before she insinuated that it had something to do with the Mayor and his family.  Fortunately for us, Our Father’s House has been gracious in allowing us to use their facility free of charge; thus allowing us to continue awarding scholarships to deserving young men and women of our community.

Michael Touchette, Past Secretary
GFHS Alumni Association

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Saleem may not be the right choice for Mayor

Dear Editor,

 

I have been following the race for Mayor in Granite Falls. I was not familiar with one of the candidates’ background, until I made a public records request to the State Liquor Control Board.

Saleem has owned the Timberline Café for nine years. During this time there have been multiple complaints about illegal activity on the premises. There also have been violations at the Timberline for employees drinking on duty, allowing an intoxicated person to buy and consume, and serving to minors.

The State Liquor Control Board gave him verbal and written warnings.

I think his actions make him a poor candidate for mayor.

 

Florence Quarterman
Granite Falls

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A cry out to County Executive Aaron Reardon

Dear Editor,

 

Please represent us who voted you into office by explaining why you would VETO the 3-2 pass to eliminate the FCC project at Lake Roesiger.

Your constituents of District 5 put you into office with the faith that you would look out for our wellbeing in our community. Instead, you have chosen to ignore our strong opposition and voted to pave our landscape and kill our environment forever.

My question to you sir, why with your total backing of this horrible destruction of our beautiful county have you not announced your reasons for your decision.

We deserve a explanation from you. I have sent several emails to you the last couple years and not once have you responded. Do you feel your office is so important you don’t have to respond to the working class?

 

Ed Zumwinkle  
Snohomish

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Quality Image Gallery says goodbye

Dear Editor,

 

Quality Image Gallery is closing its doors after 20 years of serving the greater Lake Stevens area.

We were unable to negotiate a lease and have to turn our Frontier Village store over to a sandwich shop that has been able to sign a lease for 10 years. 

We will be here until Sept. 30 liquidating all store items.

We are very sad to be closing, we will miss the community and all of our friends we have made over the last 20 years, thank you for your dedication and support.

 Quality Image Gallery
Lake Stevens

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A community thank-you to Bill and Robert

Dear Editor,

 

 I wrote early in the summer about the excessive littering on Mountain Loop Highway behind Granite Falls, and it is still an issue. (Please do not dump your garbage on someone else, there are fines and it is punishable by law.) 

It is my pleasure to send a big shout out and thank you to Bill and Robert, both of whom have spent a lot of this summer walking the highway picking up garbage. Way to go guys, thank you!

We have seen them all the way from town to the red bridge for no other reason but to help.

The whole community appreciates the effort and time, keep up the good work!

Give them a thank you honk when you drive by, they deserve it!

 

Julie Tabor
Granite Falls

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Railroad Days Alumni breakfast helps support scholarships

Dear Editor,

 

Historically, The Granite Falls Alumni Association’s Annual Railroad Days meal has been held at numerous locations, including the Eagles.  Old timers remind us of when the meal was a turkey dinner after the parade, prepared by Alumni members.

This is the third year that our breakfast will be at Our Fathers House  in Granite Falls.  They have been kind enough to let us use their space, in our quest to raise scholarship funds for our seniors graduating from Granite Falls High School.  The meals are prepared by some of our senior alumni members, who are professional cooks.  You can always count on a delicious meal.  We also raffle some wonderful items.

After this year’s breakfast we will have raised over $3,500 in the last three years for scholarships.  All revenues generated by the breakfast go into the Alumni Scholarship fund.  Raising scholarship funds is the major goal of the Alumni Association. This year the Association was able to present three high school seniors each with a $1,000 scholarship.

We invite you to join us for the Annual Railroad Days Breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 3.  Coffee is served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., breakfast at 9 a.m. The Alumni membership meeting starts at 10 a.m. 

You may RSVP by calling:  Bev Cool: 360-474-9428 or Jackie Haverfield: 360-691-7814.

 

Conrad Thompson
Granite Falls

 

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Remember the significance of Sept. 11

Dear Editor,

 

At 8:46:24 a.m. EST American Airlines Flight 11 impacted the North Tower of the World Trade Center and immediately changed our nation for years to come.

I have served my country for over 18 years of my life and have done a tour down range in Afghanistan. I ask all Lake Stevens residents to remember the events of that fateful day and take a moment to remember those who were murdered.

Also thank our first responders (Police, firefighters, and paramedics), the NYC firefighters ran into the disaster because it was their job, more importantly, their calling.

I have heard the calls to get out of Afghanistan, no more War on Terror, close Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, and no more terrorist attacks (man-caused disaster), but I put politics aside and just ask everyone to remember the ones lost and the ones that continue their efforts to protect us here at home and abroad.

My favorite quote is from General George Patton: “Only two defining forces have ever died for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.”

 Todd Welch
Everett

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 Former teacher questions new teacher’s contract

Dear Editor,

 

Someone please help me understand the calendar changes negotiated in the new LSSD teachers’ contract. Student performance is still sub-par, the district adopted a new math curriculum which required more instructional time so we now only teach Social Studies half time, yet we are eliminating an hour of instructional time every week because teachers need more planning time (in addition to the extra planning time negotiated in the prior contract, and the one before that, etc.)?

As a former teacher I fully understand the challenges of the profession; however I don’t understand how losing an additional 29 hours of instructional time (plus six hours lost from Tuesday) is supposed to benefit our children.

Once again I challenge the LSEA to respond publicly, and share with us the empirical evidence that supports their apparent conclusion that more planning time will result in increased benefit for students.

Since this is a “pilot” program, I also challenge both the LSSD and LSEA to share the methodology they plan to employ at year-end to evaluate this program “for its effectiveness and impact on staff, students and families”.

Also, are the LSSD and LSEA doing anything to assist families as they “plan as needed for the one hour delay”? Will there be expanded before-school care to assist the majority of parents who can’t just show up an hour late for work each Wednesday?

I remember that teaching was once a profession people chose because they were interested in making a positive impact on children and society. I know for a fact there are a number of wonderful teachers in the LSSD who still believe this; however I have to question whether they represent a majority or minority.

Neil Hickey

Lake Stevens

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