Letters to the Editor

Southside: Thanks

Editor, the Journal,

On behalf of the students, staff, families and directors of Southside School District I would like to thank voters for approving the Southside Educational Programs and Operations replacement levy. Southside is a great school with a 120-year history of family values and traditions. We appreciate all the community support for our independent public school district.

Paul Wieneke, Superintendent, Southside School District

Let’s thank Biden

Editor, the Journal,

Well, the election is over. We Democrats did not do well in Mason County. However, we did do much better than expected nationally. Thanks to whatever gods may be, Murray and Kilmer kept their seats.

I feel that it is particularly unfortunate that Paddy McGuire lost. Mason County has had very well-run elections, and we have a voter guide now. His opponent made mealy mouth innuendos about voter problems, but his only specific allegations turned out to be amateurish mistakes by his supporters.

It is understandable that many voters were reacting to the present inflation. But this inflation was not caused by Joe Biden or by Democratic policies. It is a global phenomenon brought on by a war and a major pandemic which choked global supply chains. The United States is doing better than many other countries with regard to inflation, and maybe Joe Biden should get credit for that. Republican policies would make inflation worse. The Trump tax cut made billionaires richer but it expanded the budget deficit.

Does anybody know what the Republican platform is? Ever since Paul Ryan was speaker, there have been rumblings about cuts to Medicare and Social Security. This is a stealth campaign, not openly promoted, but if Republicans had the power that is what they might attempt to do.

The Democrats have brought us Medicare, Social Security, and the economy has generally done better in their administrations. They are facing the real challenges of climate change and infrastructure needs.

Bob Clark, Shelton

Blame the Bible

Editor, the Journal,

I lay the blame for gay-killing hate crimes at the feet of the Bible.

I am deeply saddened by what happened in Colorado at Club Q. Five dead by a man with an AR and pistol and wounding about 20 others.

The Bible?

Yes, I lay direct blame on the abominable bible. My entire 50 years of adult life I’ve heard preachers in the pulpit quote Leviticus 18:22 (same-sex couples are an abomination). And also hearing holier-than-thou preachers gleefully quoting Romans 1 26 and 27-plus as justification for homosexuals being worthy of death (verse 32). Those scriptures have no relevance today. We humans shouldn’t be held hostage to the words of a few homophobic men who wrote such hateful diatribes way back when the wheelbarrow was thought to be high tech.

Sadly, haven’t we all heard religiously motivated politicians and many of today’s churches fist-pounding the pulpit of public opinion crying out: “Marriage is between a man and a woman!”

I say, what others consentingly prefer and do in their adult lives is none of anyone’s business. 2,000 years of biblical oppression is enough. This killing vitriol has got to stop. It is putting nefarious ideas in the heads of the mentally ill and fueling hate crimes across this already great nation and this world.

Stop.

Darrell Barker, Shelton

Shelton memories

Editor, the Journal,

As you arrive in Shelton from state Route 3 between the railroad trestle and the new Plum Orchard Park & Ride, you’ll notice off to the left an extensive sign listing the service associations associated with Shelton, among them the Pine Tree Restaurant hosting the Rotary Club. This sign is out of date. The Pine Tree Restaurant is no longer in business.

Close to 12 years ago I was new to Shelton, just having purchased the old boat (Classic Yacht) M/V El Mistico and given the option for moorage at Oakland Bay were I to purchase her boathouse conveniently located adjacent to the floating outhouse. I refer to this moorage as “a gated waterfront community” when I’m attempting to impress someone. Doesn’t work.

I knew nothing of Shelton prior to this purchase. In an effort to gain a reading of this town I attended St. David’s Episcopal Church and subsequently the Pine Street Restaurant. Both the Church, with Father Joe, and also Jim and Cindy, the penultimate owners and operators of this restaurant, were instrumental in my making the decision to live here. On my first visit, Cindy, serving as waitress, insisted I place my bicycle inside the restaurant tucked behind the pinball games, then served a most excellent breakfast of chicken fried steak (or was it eggs Benedict?) cooked from scratch. On my subsequent visit, Cindy recalled my name; it was almost as though they’d reserved a table for me. They also provided their copy of The Seattle Times, as communal property. I had never been felt to be so welcomed.

I understand back in the day of macho manual logging — high-topping, steam engines and true horsepower — the Pine Tree Restaurant invented its signature dish which, despite being named something unappetizing like fish turkey, proved to be exceptionally popular in town as their weekly special. The Oakland Bay dockside boys arranged a collective meal of this dish last summer, but I was off cruising so didn’t participate. I have not heard of any deaths nor illness from partaking in same.

With the retirement of Father Joe, his replacement, Father Steve, the après early church service breakfast club moved on to Roosters’ up Alder street. This restaurant succumbed to development. It is now the site of a Starbucks and McDonald’s.

Tragically, Jim was diagnosed with cancer. They sold the restaurant to an entrepreneurial couple who, in their attempt to stabilize and rejuvenate the restaurant, ran afoul of the governmental agency responsible for ensuring building code enforcement. It’s been closed ever since, and now faces First Street with a long horizonal crack in the front window.Jim died recently from cancer. Cindy plans to organize a life remembrance of his life this summer.

James Poirson, Shelton