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.
The longtime local agency Youth Eastside Services will conduct the forum to teach parents how to recognize signs and take steps to prevent such tragedies.
Technical issues forced City Hall off-line, and its phone lines are out as well. Repairs are expected to take four hours and be complete some time late Wednesday afternoon. The emergency 9-1-1 line remains operational.
The separate measures would raise $2.34 million annually to pay for improved maintenance and renovations of parks, and $3 million annually to address a backlog in road maintenance and add sidewalks to many streets that don't have them.
The coach denied a player's allegation of making crude comments about sexual orientation and charged that school district officials did a poor job in the investigation.
The shoreline site first called Curtis Landing and then Houghton Beach is being renamed to honor Kirkland's first woman mayor, who helped lead the effort decades ago to preserve the city's precious waterfront parks.
SR 520 between Montlake Boulevard and I-405 reopened at about 6:40 a.m. in both directions, well past the scheduled 5 a.m. reopening.
SR 520 between Montlake Boulevard and I-405 reopened at about 6:40 a.m. in both directions, well past the scheduled 5 a.m. reopening.
SR 520 between Montlake Boulevard and I-405 reopened at about 6:40 a.m. in both directions, well past the scheduled 5 a.m. reopening.
SR 520 between Montlake Boulevard and I-405 reopened at about 6:40 a.m. in both directions, well past the scheduled 5 a.m. reopening.
A large solar outburst Thursday could lead to quite a spectacle over Western Washington.
A large solar outburst Thursday could lead to quite a spectacle over Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Western Washington.
A large solar outburst Thursday could lead to quite a spectacle over Sammamish, Issaquah and Western Washington.
Seattlepi.com is reporting that the 36-year-old man is in the King County Jail after allegedly trying to arrange the rape of his girlfriend's daughter.
A large solar outburst Thursday could lead to quite a spectacle over Renton and Western Washington.
A large solar outburst Thursday could lead to quite a spectacle over Kirkland and Western Washington.
A large solar outburst Thursday could lead to quite a spectacle over Redmond and Western Washington.
The Fabulous Roof Shakers play at Marina Park in the Kirkland Summer Concert series at 7 p.m., followed by Ayron Jones and The Way at the Wilde Rover nearby at 9.
But the City of Kirkland's draft Environmental Impact Statement, released Thursday, also says the developer of the controversial project could make changes to meet the city's vision for development.
Patch asked Woodinville's Homeward Pet Adoption Center for tips on taking care of pets in summer heat.
Other cases included two cars damaged at auto dealerships on Rose Hill.
