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.
In other cases, a burglar stole a safe with $1,450 inside, a woman with a counterfeit $100 was arrested and five young man were busted at a noisy underage drinking party.
Blind since age 8, Democrat Cyrus Habib says he wants every person in Washington to have the same opportunities he had. Habib represents part of Redmond.
Led by volunteer Sue Contreras and Kirkland Heritage Society president Loita Hawkinson, a group of residents raised the money to restore the 1935 clock, and it will be back at its traditional spot at Lake Street and Kirkland Ave downtown early next mont
The man, in his mid-50s, apparently failed to set the emergency brake on his van while parking on a steep driveway in the Highlands neighborhood. The van rolled over on its side and pinned him underneath, causing serious injuries to his ankles.
The North Sound Metro SWAT team formed last year and would bring capabilities that are not available to Kirkland now, such as a tactical robot and armored car. The City Council is expected to vote on the plan next month.
Police tracked the rig to a home in Snohomish County, where they found another stolen vehicle, 14 guns, bags of precious stones and meth. A 30-year-old man and his 23-year-old girlfriend were arrested.
Kirkland has named veteran regional administrator Pam Bissonnette as interim director and moved current director Ray Steiger to a new deputy director position as the city takes on a host of major projects.
Kirkland police say the man passed a note to the teller and when the teller couldn't read it, the robber yelled that it was a robbery.
Kirkland police say the man passed a note to the teller and when she couldn't read it, the robber yelled that it was a robbery. He is described as an Hispanic man wearing a Kangol cap and dark clothes, who got away in an older green minivan.
The owner of the popular downtown shop cites parking problems as the reason for the move to an expanded location in Seattle.
Former postmaster and Navy pilot Link Kaiser describes riding freight trains to leave Wyoming and start a new life in Kirkland -- a place he had been told was paradise. Today he says he made the right choice.
Three people suffered non life-threatening injuries in the crash. Juanita Drive was closed in both directions on either side of NE 141st Street.
The web site will air a story on Sunday about the popular downtown restaurant George's Place -- a Kirkland Ave institution for 36 years.
Robert Golden made the plea Thursday in King County Superior Court. Prosecutors say he tried to collect an inflated debt from the owner of a Redmond business, saying he had sold the debt to the Bandidos motorcycle gang.
Robert Golden made the plea Thursday in King County Superior Court. Prosecutors say he tried to collect an inflated debt from the owner of a Redmond business, saying he had sold the debt to the Bandidos motorcycle gang.
Chalet Cadeau Gifts and Chalet Cadeau Christmas are moving to a new location in Bothell, due to parking and building maintenance issues, owners say.
A new owner is converting into office space the location of the Third Floor Fish Cafe, closed in 2009, but the city is requiring that one floor be maintained as space for a restaurant as mandated by its Shorelines Master Program.
In other cases, burglars hit A.G. Bell Elementary threes times over the holidays, police find a man with massive facial injuries early New Year's Day who won't say who beat him up and car thieves target two Honda Civic Del Sols.
Popular first-grade teacher Cathy Daly, who works with her therapy dog in a 'Reading With Rover' literacy program, received the award from Symetra Insurance and the Seattle Seahawks.
About 145 search and rescue volunteers were scouring a quarter-mile square area just south of Mount Si's West Peak for Kurt Ruppert Jr. from Florida, who has been missing since jumping from a helicopter Thursday.
