Your Letters - June 23, 2010
Published on Mon, Jun 14, 2010Read More Letters to the Editor
Sheriffs educate kids about fireworks safety
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department and Snohomish Police Department for sharing and caring about the children in our community.
Their participation in educating students at Machias Elementary will help save lives by teaching about the law on fireworks and awareness for prevention information.
My son died from fireworks at age13. It’s important to educate kids of injuries. Accidents happen all the time.
The students were very impressed that two law enforcement agencies and the dogs came to their school.
You’re absolutely the best.
In memory of Shane Lynch, thank you.
Glenda Lynch
Lake Stevens
Students with disabilities thankful for jobs in local establishments
Dear Editor,
The Lake Stevens School District Transition Program, a work based learning program funded by the Lake Stevens and Granite Falls School Districts for students between the ages of 18-21 with developmental disabilities, would like to thank the following businesses and agencies for their support of our students during this school year:
Lake Stevens Boys and Girls Club, Sahara Pizza, Fred Meyer-Snohomish, Albertsons, Team Fitness, Snohomish County Parks and Recreation Department, Providence Hospital, Lake Stevens Food Bank, Lake Stevens Family Center, Lake Stevens Library, Sherwood Community Services, City of Lake Stevens Adopt-A-Street Program, Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce, The ARC of Snohomish County, Community Transit, Washington Vocational Services, Arlington School District Transition Program, Marysville School District Transition Program, Monroe School District Transition Program, Stanwood-Camano School District Transition Program.
Through partnerships with these local businesses and agencies students in the Transition Program learned practical, real world work skills by volunteering two days a week for a semester. Through these volunteer experiences, students graduate with skills that can assist them as contributing members of the Lake Stevens and Granite Falls communities.
A huge round of applause, along with the gratitude of staff and students, goes out to these organizations and businesses.
The Staff of the Lake Stevens School District Transition Program
Referendum 52 needs more research before raising taxes
Dear Editor,
Referendum 52 will be before the voters and use $500 million raised from permanently instituting the bottled water tax. Ref. 52 will, as per its author, Rep. Hans Dunshee, “will create jobs, a healthy learning environment for students, and millions in dollars in energy savings,” but where is the truth?
Can Rep. Dunshee demonstrate where schools that have undergone “energy-efficient” changes have healthier students and staff with fewer sick days?
I looked at data from some schools in Washington state and the cost savings don’t add up either.
In Everett, Forest View Elementary was a “green” school built in 2006 and has energy costs of $0.56/sq. ft. while Penny Creek, which was built in 1998 has costs of $0.44/square feet.
In the Northshore School District there is Cottage Lake Elementary that was “green” built in 2007 and has costs of $0.76/sq. ft., but East Ridge, which was built in 1991 costs $0.64/sq. ft. for energy.
I don’t know where Rep. Dunshee gets his numbers but maybe instead of building “green” schools, he should attend school.
We all want to not negatively impact the environment, but we need to use sound ways and not assumptions.
Regarding job creation, any construction to a school will create or save jobs, whether green, blue, or maroon. Let’s not institute another permanent tax but instead use our existing money to its fullest potential.
Todd Welch
Everett
Music and arts programs are essential to students
Dear Editor,
This letter is directed at the Lake Stevens School District, the music department and the dedicated staff who work so hard to enrich our kid’s lives.
Our fourth and final child graduated this week, and we want to make sure that the community is aware of the stock that we place in the usefulness of music as a learning tool, and the benefits that music has contributed in the form of discipline, leadership, and a satisfying educational experience in general in our schools.
We, as a society, need to keep these programs healthy and thriving in our schools in order to produce well rounded, self disciplined, scholars in the future, and as budgets tighten, and budget cuts become the norm, we need to make sure that music, and the arts in general, survive, as they do so much more than just provide entertainment, and fill idle time slots.
The arts are what form a free-thinker’s mind and give them the ability to find the non-traditional thought processes that are so essential to change and making this world a better place to live. We need to ensure that our kids get the opportunity to create and exercise their minds in a positive and self-motivated environment.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to several teachers in particular.
Neil Proff, who has undertaken a monumental task and whose energy and love of music education will certainly serve the community well.
Pat Arnold, who, although had a sometimes turbulent time, is a dedicated man in the field, and has moved on to another area, and lastly, Ed Pearson, who spent over 30 years in the district at the junior high level, and should be honored as the patriarch of the music programs in this area for the many years he has endured, and the sheer number of students he has introduced to the experience and love of making music.
There are other very dedicated teachers here, we’re sure, but these are the ones who were so instrumental in our kid’s lives.
Thanks guys, we really appreciate your hard work, and the community, although it’s not always expressed well, appreciate all the hard work too.
Don and Susan Fuller
Lake Stevens
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department and Snohomish Police Department for sharing and caring about the children in our community.
Their participation in educating students at Machias Elementary will help save lives by teaching about the law on fireworks and awareness for prevention information.
My son died from fireworks at age13. It’s important to educate kids of injuries. Accidents happen all the time.
The students were very impressed that two law enforcement agencies and the dogs came to their school.
You’re absolutely the best.
In memory of Shane Lynch, thank you.
Glenda Lynch
Lake Stevens
Students with disabilities thankful for jobs in local establishments
Dear Editor,
The Lake Stevens School District Transition Program, a work based learning program funded by the Lake Stevens and Granite Falls School Districts for students between the ages of 18-21 with developmental disabilities, would like to thank the following businesses and agencies for their support of our students during this school year:
Lake Stevens Boys and Girls Club, Sahara Pizza, Fred Meyer-Snohomish, Albertsons, Team Fitness, Snohomish County Parks and Recreation Department, Providence Hospital, Lake Stevens Food Bank, Lake Stevens Family Center, Lake Stevens Library, Sherwood Community Services, City of Lake Stevens Adopt-A-Street Program, Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce, The ARC of Snohomish County, Community Transit, Washington Vocational Services, Arlington School District Transition Program, Marysville School District Transition Program, Monroe School District Transition Program, Stanwood-Camano School District Transition Program.
Through partnerships with these local businesses and agencies students in the Transition Program learned practical, real world work skills by volunteering two days a week for a semester. Through these volunteer experiences, students graduate with skills that can assist them as contributing members of the Lake Stevens and Granite Falls communities.
A huge round of applause, along with the gratitude of staff and students, goes out to these organizations and businesses.
The Staff of the Lake Stevens School District Transition Program
Referendum 52 needs more research before raising taxes
Dear Editor,
Referendum 52 will be before the voters and use $500 million raised from permanently instituting the bottled water tax. Ref. 52 will, as per its author, Rep. Hans Dunshee, “will create jobs, a healthy learning environment for students, and millions in dollars in energy savings,” but where is the truth?
Can Rep. Dunshee demonstrate where schools that have undergone “energy-efficient” changes have healthier students and staff with fewer sick days?
I looked at data from some schools in Washington state and the cost savings don’t add up either.
In Everett, Forest View Elementary was a “green” school built in 2006 and has energy costs of $0.56/sq. ft. while Penny Creek, which was built in 1998 has costs of $0.44/square feet.
In the Northshore School District there is Cottage Lake Elementary that was “green” built in 2007 and has costs of $0.76/sq. ft., but East Ridge, which was built in 1991 costs $0.64/sq. ft. for energy.
I don’t know where Rep. Dunshee gets his numbers but maybe instead of building “green” schools, he should attend school.
We all want to not negatively impact the environment, but we need to use sound ways and not assumptions.
Regarding job creation, any construction to a school will create or save jobs, whether green, blue, or maroon. Let’s not institute another permanent tax but instead use our existing money to its fullest potential.
Todd Welch
Everett
Music and arts programs are essential to students
Dear Editor,
This letter is directed at the Lake Stevens School District, the music department and the dedicated staff who work so hard to enrich our kid’s lives.
Our fourth and final child graduated this week, and we want to make sure that the community is aware of the stock that we place in the usefulness of music as a learning tool, and the benefits that music has contributed in the form of discipline, leadership, and a satisfying educational experience in general in our schools.
We, as a society, need to keep these programs healthy and thriving in our schools in order to produce well rounded, self disciplined, scholars in the future, and as budgets tighten, and budget cuts become the norm, we need to make sure that music, and the arts in general, survive, as they do so much more than just provide entertainment, and fill idle time slots.
The arts are what form a free-thinker’s mind and give them the ability to find the non-traditional thought processes that are so essential to change and making this world a better place to live. We need to ensure that our kids get the opportunity to create and exercise their minds in a positive and self-motivated environment.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to several teachers in particular.
Neil Proff, who has undertaken a monumental task and whose energy and love of music education will certainly serve the community well.
Pat Arnold, who, although had a sometimes turbulent time, is a dedicated man in the field, and has moved on to another area, and lastly, Ed Pearson, who spent over 30 years in the district at the junior high level, and should be honored as the patriarch of the music programs in this area for the many years he has endured, and the sheer number of students he has introduced to the experience and love of making music.
There are other very dedicated teachers here, we’re sure, but these are the ones who were so instrumental in our kid’s lives.
Thanks guys, we really appreciate your hard work, and the community, although it’s not always expressed well, appreciate all the hard work too.
Don and Susan Fuller
Lake Stevens
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