Barack Obama

APB on the president-elect

In the passion of the Democrats’ celebration on election night at the Silverdale Beach Hotel, an irresistible urge overcame someone who walked out with the life-sized cardboard cutout of Barack Obama.

It belongs to a young man who reluctantly, but generously, loaned it to us for the evening.

We hope that it has served its purpose for the person who “borrowed” it and he/she will return it, no questions asked, to any location at the Silverdale Beach Hotel.

The hotel staff knows to watch for its appearance.

We understand how this could happen in the overwhelming emotion of the moment.

Karen Best and Sharon Brown

Chico

City hall

Gotta love those SUVs

Pop quiz: Your car is old. It’s been rumbling and rattling for a long time now. Do you buy a top-of-the-line, full-sized, gas-guzzling SUV, with all the whistles and bells? Or a mid-sized, quality-rated, sensible car?

Wait.

Before you decide, consider this. You’ll have to take on a car payment that you haven’t had for a long time. Your income isn’t increasing, in fact, you’re hoping it stays steady, but with the economy trembling, the ripple effect from Boeing’s strike, and Poulsbo RV heading out of town, you’re a little nervous about your own financial situation.

So, what do you do?

Well, apparently, if you’re our mayor and city council, you ignore all the signs and buy the big, gas guzzler, with all the extras. Right?

No?

Haven’t you been watching what our city leaders are doing with the new city hall?

Do you think maybe you should?

After all, they’re not spending their money.

They’re spending yours!

Jan Harrison

Poulsbo

Armstrong Fitness

Community lost valuable resources

The community has lost three valuable resources. With the closing of Armstrong Fitness, Kitsap Running & Walking, Co. and Peninsula Physical and Sports Therapy, there is a hole that may never be filled.

As a gym member turned employee, I cannot thank Ann Armstrong enough for all that she has done for me and for all of the heart she gave to her community. It’s tough running a business, but three at the same time, as a single mom raising three children, the mountain is more challenging!

Ann never flinched until now. Thank you, Ann, for your strength,courage and passion! I know I can be a better person from knowing you.

The final days of the store’s closing, many of our customers and friends came to say “goodbye.” Many reminded me of the turmoil that we went through the past 18 months.

I still cannot fathom how the EPA, State and city of Poulsbo managed to bungle the gasoline leak that forced her to move. Then the circus act the city of Poulsbo put on when Ann tried to open her gym in the downtown corridor.

A few city council members tried to help, and quite a few showed just how skillful they are at acting.

I want to thank all of our clients who have supported us through everything and that you are still there for us. Because of you, our dark cloud was always brighter!

Ellen Dougherty

Poulsbo

Val Torrens

Columnists are the same, just polar opposites

If proud liberal Val Torrens upsets Barry Clemons of Silverdale so much he can easily regain his equanimity by reading Adele Ferguson’s regular contrapuntal columns in the Herald. Although Mrs. Ferguson is sometimes completely logical and practical she is usually hard over on most issues; squarely in Mr. Clemons’ apparent comfort zone.

That’s the beauty of our free press; it hears and publishes both sides of our daily practical and philosophical conflicts and, thus, lets us weigh the arguments of each against the other forcing us from our bore-sighted, attitudinal comfort zones.

We the people, need you to carry on publishing both sides.

Jim Schubert

Kingston