Letters to the Editor, May 5
Support small businesses downtown
I agree with the submission from Calvin Goings about supporting small businesses (Commentary, April 27). One of the primary reasons we all moved to and live in Gig Harbor is the character of our downtown. I would urge readers to support our businesses in the downtown area. Two examples of wonderful long time businesses in our downtown, which have provided excellent services for years, would be Wild Birds Unlimited and Green Cottage Pets. Without Green Cottage Pets and their healthy pet products and advice, our dog would not have lived the long life that he did. We have already lost Mostly Books and Seasons. Please support our downtown stores so we don’t lose any more stores that define the character of our town.
Jan McMullen, Gig Harbor
Proper planning prevents pines
When I read about the Olympic Property Group vice president’s comments in your April 13 editorial, ‘City must protect trees it has left,’ I almost had an aneurysm!
“OPG vice president John Chadwell said Monday that his company will replant the (Peacock Hill Road) buffer this fall with trees better suited for the suburban environment, mostly red cedars and pines ...”
Maybe the next time OPG carves a new city, (i.e., “suburban environment”), out of the wilderness, they can try just a bit harder to adapt their plans in order to fit in with the existing natural environment, instead of the other way around!
I also take exception to the editorial’s final paragraph: Gig Harbor residents shouldn’t have to “stand up for smart tree policy,”; however, they do need to stand up and demand an end to the madness.
Tom Curran, Gig Harbor
Fate of great blue heron not linked to recent development
Re Jeni Woock’s editorial 4/27/16; it has long been known that effective environmental advocacy is based on science and verifiable facts rather than conjecture and emotional appeals. Otherwise, misinformation perpetuates and emotions escalate. While the debate continues on whether Gig Harbor’s appeal and infrastructure can keep pace with its rapid development, the plight of that avian icon of wetlands across the continent can’t be linked to any recent developments here. The great blue heron (GBH) is a colonial nester in expansive wetlands now shrunk or eliminated throughout Puget Sound over many decades by residential and commercial development.
The GBH will continue to delight us with its flight and feeding tactics around the Harbor exploiting its rich food source. Small vestigial breeding sites like the one downtown are questionably viable. Even if young birds are seen on nests, successful fledging is imperiled by the restoration of our other iconic bird, the bald eagle that finds young unprotected herons easy pickings. One of the only large sustainable heronries left in the northwest is at Anacortes where success is due to strength in numbers. Colonial nesters breed and feed in separate habitats.
Herons have abundant feeding habitats here, but not breeding. Those we enjoy were born elsewhere. I can’t claim to know nesting status here. Those devoted to wildlife habitat conservation and restoration should support worthy organizations. Our own right here is Harbor WildWatch – and where to learn the truth about the GBH.
Frank Knight, Gig Harbor
GUEST SUBMISSIONS
The Peninsula Gateway accepts guest columns up to 600 words and letters to the editor up to 250 words. Priority consideration is given to those who live on the Gig Harbor or Key peninsulas. Letters and columns should be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the next publication. The Peninsula Gateway reserves the right to edit for space, style and potentially libelous material. To submit a letter or column, email gatewayeditor@gateline.com (preferred), or mail it to: Letters to the Editor, 3226 Rosedale St., Gig Harbor, WA 98335.
This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor, May 5."