Thanks

One of the flower ladies returns favor

Just a note to thank all my old and new friends that have passed me as I gardened downtown over the years.

I’m pretty sure it’s a rarity for most to get a single compliment or “thank you” on a given day at work. My experience has been truly remarkable, enlightening, thought provoking and humbling as I have become such a recognizable part of this community for so long through my career with the City of Edmonds Parks Dept. To most of you I’m one of the flower ladies, the older one.

Yesterday, an elderly man with a Rotary club or Daybreakers logo on his jacket stopped by.

He said, “I see you’re at it again, keeping things beautiful. You all do such a great job keeping our town looking nice. Thank you for all you do. You’ve been doing this for a long time, working in these gardens.

“How long?”

I said, “Tewnty-two years.”

I told him this was going to be my last month.

He said, “I know you will be missed.”

I was so touched by this man’s comments. I was emotional in ways that I just haven’t been able to brush off since I made the decision it was time for me to move on.

He wasn’t one of my “regulars.” I wondered if I’d get the opportunity to say, “So long,” to any of them. And of course, the tears came flooding with the knowledge that it’d be pretty much impossible before I leave.

Mostly, I don’t even know all your names anyway. And I imagine you didn’t necessarily know mine either. The names are not important. Every single time you sent thanks my way, I felt special and was reminded of the value of a job well-done. And I know that you were not just thanking me personally but all those that have worked with me and before me over the years.

So what I want to say is that every one of you who has ever stopped to say “Thanks” or “You girls do great work” was heard. Your words literally made the crummy days bearable and the good days fabulous. It often seemed you had a special talent for knowing when a few kind words would be most needed.

You reminded me of what I have always held dear, that, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

I always knew that I had the single best job in the entire Parks Dept. if not the whole city. Each and every one of you made it so.

I know you will be just as enthusiastic with the next group of “floristas” as you have always been with me. They love gardening as much as any of us ever have. So keep spreading the love. Your support is awesome.

Janice Noe

Edmonds

The good fight was worth fighting

A plaque was recently dedicated at Point Edwards in commemoration of Edmonds citizen’s fight against Brightwater. Many people joined this successful effort, some of whom were recognised and continue to serve our public.

I remember one person, who actively spoke out, before public proclamations against Brightwater, before the very first meeting of what was to become the Washington Tea Party, the citizen group against Brightwater in Edmonds, and before the people of Edmonds were aware that their shore was slated to host the sewage of north King and Snohomish counties.

Deanna Dawson, thank you. Thank you for your outspoken presence on the Brightwater site selection committee. Thank you for your astute and clear analysis of the legal, political and historical process that led to Edmonds as the choice sewage treatment site. Thank you for your quiet, strong support. I am glad that you continue to so adeptly serve our community and county.

Mary Wilson

Washington Tea Party

founding member

City politics

DJ Wilson will be good on council

I was pleased to read that DJ Wilson has decided to run for Mauri Moore’s seat on the City Council. He will be an excellent addition to it. He not only has a good political background to do the job but has the support of many people including Mayor Haakenson. He’s smart, articulate and a good listener. As mentioned elsewhere, he has volunteered and worked on important issues that have faced the city in the past. He was co-founder of the Washington Tea Party that fought the Bright Water Issue and kept it out of Edmonds. He currently serves on the Mayor’s Transportation Advisory Committee that deals with local changes to our transportation needs here in the Edmonds area. He works diligently on anything in which he becomes involved. He is also very active in the Edmonds Public Education Foundation which makes important recommendations to Edmonds School District. He also was a past president of that fine organization.

He will bring a fresh approach to the city council not only to do with important issues facing the city but also his great ability to work well with others.

Warren Schweppe

Edmonds