Keep the trail

Regarding the restoration of the Dungeness Floodplain and paving option for the future of Towne Road: I am in favor of the trail concept to the exclusion of thru traffic for motor vehicles.

The trail concept is popular with recreation enthusiasts and provides many unique offerings.

1) The trail along the historically and culturally significant mighty Dungeness river, I believe, cannot be overstated. The Dungeness is one of the most significant and critical river basins on the Olympic Peninsula.

2) There is significant support now to maintaining the recreation trail. The opportunity to create a lasting environmental legacy exists now. The likelihood that this road will be vacated to create a walking trail in the future is practically zero. The walking trail concept fulfills the need for residents and visitors to explore birding, wildlife habitat and our natural environment. The trail concept is consistent with other river-based restoration and conservation efforts and interests. There is opportunity to inspire meaningful connection with the wild nature and beauty that we enjoy while living here.

3) Recreation opportunities abound around us. The trail concept is consistent with understanding our stewardship responsibility. In my opinion, one of our goals as humans on this planet is to figure out ways we can all flourish. I believe that by providing the trail, we provide the place and inspiration for individuals to enjoy the outdoors, breathe fresh air and get exercise. A paved road for motor vehicle traffic does not accomplish these rewarding goals.

4) Interest and enjoyment in recreation is something that we all generally aspire. Replacement of a physical resource such as this trail would be extremely costly. Factoring in acquisition, planning, development costs, I don’t think this can be easily replaced.

There exists an opportunity for us to make a lasting legacy in protecting this resource. I hope you will join the community and supporters in designating the trail option.

Bill Biery

Sequim

Ferry system need fix

The Washington State Ferry System began in June, 1951, incorporating existing Black Ball ferries. As new ferry routes were selected in Puget Sound, new ferries, dry-docks and landings were built, new personnel were hired and trained to operate the ferries and landings. Today, there are decades of management experience in knowing what ferry and personnel salary rates need to be, ferries and sizes for necessary growth, ferry parts, and trained personnel are needed to maintain and operate the system.

However, the system is not being properly maintained or managed ! A few years ago, my family and I waited two hours in Anacortes for the overdue Friday Harbor Ferry to arrive. I was told the delay was due to a wrong size installed propeller slowing the ferry. Recently, I read on-line there are now six needed but inactive ferries for various reasons, including lack of trained personnel.

Considering the 70-plus years the system has been operating and developing, that ferry rates would be set to pay for all known system and personnel costs plus an expense cushion for needed trained personnel and other foreseen system costs. All ferry routes need to have dependable timetables. Obviously, this is not happening! Who is responsible?

Richard Hahn

Sequim

Political moderates are not in the middle

In politics, the far left and the far right are viewed as extremists. A moderate is in the middle, right? Not so, I say. Every law that our nation has, and this is a nation of laws, is held to a Constitutional standard. Every right we possess is enumerated in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Therefore, I submit that a Constitutional Conservative is the baseline, the standard, the place where the political spectrum begins. The further from the baseline people are, the more extreme they are. A moderate, therefore, is somewhat extreme. A person on the left is very extreme. A Constitutional Conservative is what should be considered normal, in fact the ideal.

For me, every time conservatives compromise, I view it as a loss, a move away from what our founding fathers envisioned. I will not compromise my rights, and therefore must speak out against our state representatives Chapman and Tharinger for their voting records against our Constitutionally-protected rights.

Mark A. White

Port Angeles