Opinion

In a three-day event ahead of the November 2020 elections, the voting center at Federal Way’s Performing Arts and Event Center saw 1,433 voters, which included 466 newly registered voters. File photo
Editorial

Editorial: Baseless claims of fraud threaten voter confidence

Without evidence of fraud, it’s those alleging irregularities who are a threat to election integrity.

In a three-day event ahead of the November 2020 elections, the voting center at Federal Way’s Performing Arts and Event Center saw 1,433 voters, which included 466 newly registered voters. File photo
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal told a crowd in Port Angeles he would like to see school districts have the ability to increase their local levies. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Message from state superintendent regarding school employee vaccinations

After a year and a half of remote and hybrid learning, my top priorities as our school buildings reopen for full-time in-person learning are providing… Continue reading

  • Aug 21, 2021
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal told a crowd in Port Angeles he would like to see school districts have the ability to increase their local levies. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
A Sept. 10, 2020, satellite image shows smoke from U.S. wildfires blanketing the majority of the West Coast. (European Space Agency)
Editorial

Editorial: The UN climate report, ‘The Lorax’ and us

The report and the Dr. Seuss classic offer a dire warning — and hope — for responding to climate change.

A Sept. 10, 2020, satellite image shows smoke from U.S. wildfires blanketing the majority of the West Coast. (European Space Agency)
John Hamer is a retired editorial writer and columnist for The Seattle Times. He and his wife have four grandchildren.
John Hamer

Getting to know your wildlife on Mercer Island | Guest column

My wife and I often visit Suncadia, on the other side of Snoqualmie Pass near Cle Elum. There are lots of wildlife there: elk, deer,… Continue reading

  • Aug 18, 2021
John Hamer is a retired editorial writer and columnist for The Seattle Times. He and his wife have four grandchildren.
Maria Gulchuk, a teacher in Federal Way, chats with her students via Zoom during online class on in 2020. File photo
Jayendrina Singha Ray

Technology and the post-pandemic restructuring of education | Guest column

As Simon Jenkins notes in an op-ed piece in The Guardian, “Great institutions traditionally need traumas — wars or pandemics — to force them to… Continue reading

  • Aug 13, 2021
Maria Gulchuk, a teacher in Federal Way, chats with her students via Zoom during online class on in 2020. File photo
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Look forward to an exciting November election | Roegner

King County Executive Dow Constantine was expected to win the August primary, and his likely goal was to break 50%, which makes it hard for… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

It’s time to rethink Washington’s long-term care law | Brunell

Time is short, but action is necessary. Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats who control the state Legislature need to postpone implementing the sweeping “Long-Term Services… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Back to work? With new virus strain, maybe not | Roegner

COVID-19 has made the workplace more hazardous because the virus, particularly the delta variant, gets transmitted by air and proximity to infected people. What value… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Robert Toomey, CFA/CFP, is Vice President of Research for S. R. Schill & Associates on Mercer Island.

Financial reality about re-introducing mask mandates | Guest column

The recent flare-up the COVID delta variant is a good example of how Mother Nature works to sustain her various biological creations. It is normal… Continue reading

  • Aug 12, 2021
Robert Toomey, CFA/CFP, is Vice President of Research for S. R. Schill & Associates on Mercer Island.
Dr. Bob Baugher is a professor in the Department of Psychology Highline College. Contact BBAUGHER@highline.edu. Contributed photo
Guest column

Love and death: We don’t have forever, so we better do it now

By Dr. Bob Baugher, guest columnist

  • Aug 7, 2021
Dr. Bob Baugher is a professor in the Department of Psychology Highline College. Contact BBAUGHER@highline.edu. Contributed photo
Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos is chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores in Mercer Island.
Greg Asimakoupoulos

Let’s hear it for anniversaries | Guest column

Our journey through life is marked by milestones. This year, my progress on the road that leads to the future has been slowed a bit… Continue reading

Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos is chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores in Mercer Island.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

King County primary election candidates to watch | Roegner

With the Aug. 3 primary election, the public will narrow the field to the finalists as only the top two advance in each position to… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Massive reforestation effort needed in Washington and beyond | Brunell

Massive forest fires in the western parts of our country are not only choking us with layers of thick smoke, but are leaving behind millions… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

U.S. Supreme Court: One right, one wrong | Roegner

Here’s a tale of two United States Supreme Court decisions — one right and one wrong. Despite two clear examples of discrimination, the court ruled… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Silver lining from Washington’s brutal heat wave | Brunell

How about some good news coming out of our record-breaking (extreme) heat wave? Luckily, we live and work in the Pacific Northwest. We are reaping… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Why wouldn’t you vaccinate to save loved ones? | Roegner

Many Americans continue to be hesitant to get the COVID vaccine, even though President Joe Biden has been given high approval ratings for his handling… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
John Hamer is a retired editorial writer and columnist for The Seattle Times. He and his wife have four grandchildren.

Grassroots democracy revitalizes Mercerdale playground | Guest column

The other day my daughter-in-law, Effie Parks, took her two kids to Luther Burbank Park. My 5-year-old grandson Ford has a rare genetic disorder and… Continue reading

  • Jul 12, 2021
John Hamer is a retired editorial writer and columnist for The Seattle Times. He and his wife have four grandchildren.
Robert Toomey, CFA/CFP, is Vice President of Research for S. R. Schill & Associates on Mercer Island.

Financial planning in the era of COVID recovery | Guest column

Following a terrible past 15 months, it is good news that the U.S. economy is now moving into a more solid and, we believe, sustainable… Continue reading

  • Jul 9, 2021
Robert Toomey, CFA/CFP, is Vice President of Research for S. R. Schill & Associates on Mercer Island.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Cities can help solve the homelessness challenge | Roegner

Each one of the cities outside Seattle faces the same problems Seattle has faced when it comes to homelessness because homelessness does not recognize city… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos is chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores in Mercer Island.
Greg Asimakoupoulos

Celebrating Christmas in July | Guest column

Seventy-five years ago this month, Hollywood director Frank Capra was filming “It’s a Wonderful Life” in Bedford Falls. Did you know an increasing number of… Continue reading

Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos is chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores in Mercer Island.