Thumbs up to the local libraries for giving a boost to their communities’ poets and the overall literary level.
On the surface, it may not seem all that significant that Friends of the Covington Library, Friends of the Black Diamond Library and the Maple Valley Library Guild jointly sponsored a poetry contest. But consider this: In an age when literature sometimes fades in the haze of technology-generated interests, validation of old-fashioned literary pursuits is more than a worthy thing. It’s essential.

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The Washington State Republican convention last weekend in Spokane should have been dull and uneventful. All they had to do was approve a slate of national convention delegates to support the obvious presidential nominee, John McCain, vote for a short, concise party platform and leave town.
Instead, the tenacious Ron Paul people, who made up more than a third of the delegates, contested the McCain forces on virtually every front.

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The election season is approaching and the state’s two major political parties are in a twitter.

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It’s never too late to do some spring cleaning of column items:

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Thumbs up to the repeat state champion tennis player from Kentwood High School, the champion long-jumper from Kentlake High and the near-champion baseball team from Kentlake.

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I am a 43-year-old male with a beautiful family and am very fortunate. My children and fiance are very wonderful and supportive of me. Especially these days.

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For all the gains Metro Transit has made in ridership and expanded service over the years, there’s been a bit of a disconnect in some comparatively underserved areas.

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In the last election, I was elected on a reform platform to try and bring more transparency to governing King County Public Hospital District 1 (Valley Medical Center). I want to thank you for the trust that so many citizens and voters have placed in myself and other elected officials to work together to ensure public resources are being used for the maximum public good.

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It’s expected that transportation will be the biggest local issue in the 2008 elections. Most people aren’t happy. But instead of trying to find scapegoats, let’s review some history to see why we’re paying higher transportation taxes for longer commutes.

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It’s spring, and you know what that means?

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Thank you for putting our Boy Scouts picture in the paper. Thank you for all you do for our community. I really enjoy the paper. I noticed the web version seems to have more content. I like that as well.

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I would like to suggest three ways for people to use all or part of their economic stimulus tax rebate: (1) Make a financial gift to charity and help a neighbor in need who is suffering from layoff, injury, illness or the effects of poverty. (2) Spend some of your rebate at a non-profit thrift stor. Stretch your funds and help a worthy mission. (3) Finally, if you really have to buy a new furniture set or plasma TV, contact a charity and offer your good-condition used one.

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Thumbs up to the King County Library System for its latest major upgrade in our neck of the woods.

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Suffering from calendar confusion? You and me both, my friend.

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This is about the time I was going to write about the new state law that, in a little over a month from now, will forbid driving and using a hand-held cell phone at the same time.

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I have recently read two articles in your paper that speak to the continual questioning of some of the Valley Medical Center Board of Commissioners’ ethics. I was dismayed in 2006 with the annexation fiasco and began following the news concerning Valley Medical Center.

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Let me first say that I work full-time, live in a working-class neighborhood (no upscale residence for me, no favored consumer status), and my kids go to public school. And you don’t need to worry that you pay for my healthcare. I also pay a separate health insurance premium through my work, plus office deductibles, just like most people do. I also don’t mind paying taxes for schools and emergency services used as common resources by the community.

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Thumbs up to the proposed merger of Fire Districts 44 and 17, if for no other reason than it just makes sense. And that might be the best reason of all.

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It’s good that a squabble over meetings of the Hospital District 1 Commissioners is over. I have a feeling the public is more interested in the healthcare that the commissioners help monitor than their finger-pointing.

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I don’t know how many of you look through all the inserts that are added to your monthly bills. Normally I give them a quick scan of the titles to see what someone wants from or to do to me. With last month’s Puget Sound Energy (PSE) bill I knew there would be an insert about the upcoming rate increases and how much it was going to affect me. I’m not against giving the company a little extra to buffer the increased cost of fuel, labor and storm damage to their system. I was thinking a 3 or 4 percent increase would be in line with my standard of living (fixed) and be fair to have power 24/7. I’ve been to other countries where even 2/7 was asking a lot.

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