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.
Police went to the Susann Smith's home Feb. 12 when her employer called to say she had not arrived for work. Smith, 37, died of head injuries, according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office.
Police went to the woman's house Tuesday morning when her employer called to say she had not arrived for work. Police say her two children were not harmed and are safe.
Richard Curtis Marsh, 44, is accused of three bank holdups and police say he is a suspect in several more since September, including a November bank robbery in Bellevue's Factoria neighborhood.
Richard Curtis Marsh, 44, is accused of three bank holdups and police say he is a suspect in several more since September, including one in Kirkland and one in Bellevue.
Clifford Everell Reed, a disabled auto mechanic, was extradited from Montana and faces a Feb. 14 arraignment here in the 1996 murder of 28-year-old Sandi Johnson of Kirkland.
Clifford Everell Reed, a disabled auto mechanic, was extradited from Montana and faces a Feb. 14 arraignment here in the 1996 murder of 28-year-old Sandi Johnson of Kirkland. He is in King County Jail on bail of $5 million.
Clifford Everell Reed, a disabled auto mechanic, was extradited from Montana and faces a Feb. 14 arraignment here in the 1996 murder of 28-year-old Sandi Johnson of Kirkland. He is being held in the King County Jail on bail of $5 million.
The Union Method studio was opened last September by Tami Jones, who has been entranced by dance and movement since she was a young girl growing up in the Bridle Trails area.
A K-9 unit and county helicopter were brought in to search for the male suspect, who took off running after being found standing outside a stolen car.
In other Kirkland Police reports, two young women were found smoking pot from "improvised smoking paraphernalia' -- an apple -- and a several individuals were discovered cheering on a naked woman in a car at 1 a.m.
Charging documents allege the pair would cruise neighborhoods slowly in a car with tinted windows, waiting for people to leave their homes. One of the men would then burglarize the home while the other served as lookout.
Charging documents allege the pair would cruise neighborhoods slowly in a car with tinted windows, waiting for people to leave their homes. One of the men would then burglarize the home while the other served as lookout.
Charging documents allege the pair would cruise neighborhoods slowly in a car with tinted windows, waiting for people to leave their homes. One of the men would then burglarize the home while the other served as lookout.
The one occupant of the townhouse made it out safely, and the fire was put out quickly by Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland firefighters.
Kirkland police apprehended the male suspect Tuesday morning after a homeowner apparently interrupted a burglary in progress on northeast Finn Hill.
The one occupant of the townhouse made it out safely, and the fire was put out quickly by the engine crew from Houghton Fire Station 22.
Just less than 1 percent of the students in the Lake Washington School District were considered to be homeless in 2011-12, according to figures from the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The city council will be asked Tuesday to accept the purchase of 5.9 acres of a forest that connects to 16 acres already in public ownership, along a stream that flows into Juanita Creek. The city bought the parcel in a foreclosure sale for just $4,700.
What's a Super Bowl without tortilla chips and guac? Food writer Julie Arnan of Kirkland offers this terrific recipe, with variations to suit you tastes.
The brothers Harbaugh -- coaches of the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens -- square off at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, with the game on CBS, channel 7.
