A refugee from the newspaper industry, Greg Johnston has been a journalist for more than 30 years, most of them with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which vanished into the pages of history in March of 2009. He also served for four years as wire editor/reporter at The Daily World in Aberdeen on the Washington Coast, and worked as a news writer and wirephoto operator at the Associated Press Seattle bureau while attending the University of Washington. Greg graduated from the UW's School of Communications in the Rose Bowl victory year of 1978 – Go Dawgs!
He sees in Patch the opportunity to continue doing what he does: real, honest journalism, now on line, at a hyper-local level, in his hometown. Adventure-oriented since a child, Greg loves to hike, backpack, fish, ride his mountain bike, run, kayak, snowboard and take nature photographs.
He lives on Finn Hill with his wife and has three grown children, one a U.S. Army infantryman and Afghanistan War veteran, and two beautiful grandchildren.
<b>Your Beliefs</b>
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
<b>Politics</b>
How would you describe your political beliefs? Are you registered with a certain party?
I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I support a strong military, but believe the answer to conflict is tolerance, understanding, diplomacy and dialogue. I dream of the day Americans can withdraw from foreign conflict and look inward to address issues such as unemployment, homelessness, poverty and environmental protection. I am not a member of any party.
<b>Religion</b>
How religious would you consider yourself?
I was baptized a Christian and would call myself spiritual, but not devout. I find peace in nature, in the Pacific Northwest's mountains, forests, rivers and seas and along its magnificent ocean shoreline.
<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
Kirkland is a relatively affluent, largely suburban bedroom community where quality of life issues are important. The challenge will be maintaining a vibrant downtown and neighborhoods while preserving their small-town charm. I think quality of life should not be sacrificed for economic development; rather, I think maintaining a high quality of life is essential to a strong economy.
Troy Hennum, investigated last year by the Lake Washington School District for texting a softball team member, has now reportedly resigned after being put on unpaid leave as Roosevelt High softball coach for asking team members to find him dates.
Kelly Hudson is set to go to trial on July 16 with one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault in the crash that killed Joyce Parsons of Finn Hill and critically injured her brother, Arthur Kamm of Bellevue.
No major injuries were suffered Thursday when several units from the Kirkland and Redmond fire departments responded to a fire in the Norkirk neighborhood. Two workers at a job nearby were credited with rescuing a dog.
No major injuries were suffered Thursday afternoon when several units from the Kirkland and Redmond fire departments responded to a fire in the Norkirk neighborhood. Two workers at a job nearby were credited with rescuing a dog.
Organizers say the city is capping the St. Paddy's Day Weekend run at 2,000 participants, and with 1,300 already registered, the event might reach that in just its second year.
Fans of the Woodinville craft brewery will likely soon be singing the praises of a few new ales, thanks to a larger 30-barrel fermenter that recently arrived.
Several officers searched unsuccessfully for the male suspect, who fled a traffic stop, ditched the stolen car in an alley and ran.
After-school classes start March 12 at Lake Forest Park’s Brookside Elementary and April 20 at Shoreline’s Briarcrest Elementary.
Kirkland's highly regarded Studio East will get kids grades 2-6 rolling on their own production, put together over five days during Spring Break April 8-12.
Do you remember working for minimum wage in your teens? How much was it, and where did you work? Share your recollections here.
Mercer Island police have issued two images from surveillance photos in an effort to identify who might be responsible for the theft of jewelry from a parked car.
Do you remember working for minimum wage in your teens? How much was it, and where did you work? Share your recollections here.
The Finn Hill Community Facebook page reports a sighting around March 1 at Big Finn Hill Park and a bobcat sighting in Houghton was reported to the Kirkland Parks Department earlier this year.
Neighborhoodscout,.com ranks Sammamish as the 11th safest city of 25,000 residents or more in the entire United States. The ranking is based on property and violent crime reported to the FBI vs. population size.
Hudson is charged with one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault in the crash that killed Joyce Parsons of Finn Hill and critically injured her brother, Arthur Kamm of Bellevue.
Issaquah police caught up with the 44-year-old man Wednesday after a Feb. 24 incident in which he allegedly told customers in the Fred Meyer store that he was going to "kill the cops."
The East Coast-based chain offering basic but big hamburgers with a choice of 15 toppings will open in the NE 124th Totem Lake area on Monday.
King County authorities say they are not at a dead end in the case of Lucy Pieczatkowski, killed early New Year's Day near North Bend in a hit-and-run incident.
The King County Sheriff's Office has no leads on who was driving a van that hit the 60-year-old man in the 14600 block of Aurora Avenue, and is urging anyone with information about it to come forward.
Issaquah police caught up with the 44-year-old man Wednesday after a Feb. 24 incident in which he allegedly told customers in the Fred Meyer store that he was going to "kill the cops."