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.
An Evergreen surgeon recently became one of the first in the region to use a computerized robotics system to remove gall bladders through the belly button.
Chief Kryger most recently served as the department's training chief and coordinator with the East Metro Training Group.
Other cases include a Kingsgate man losing an HDTV in an Ebay scam, outboard motor and pay phone thefts and minor pot busts.
Firefighters responded to the rollover accident on 116th Avenue in the Totem Lake West area during Tuesday evening's commute.
The City Council moves forward with a plan to end an agreement with county and take over animal control service in Kirkland.
Lakeview resident takes issues with the city's Zoning Code on minimum lot size for residential development in areas designated for Neighborhood Business.
A leadership class at Kirkland Junior High gathered donations and packaged "basic needs packs" to help homeless students throughout the Lake Washington School District.
Rita Costello's Leadership Class gathered donations and packaged "basic needs packs" to help homeless students throughout the Lake Washington School District.
Federal forecasters and UW weather guru Cliff Mass are predicting a mostly dry spring weekend.
The Wing Chun Do Gung Fu school on Rose Hill captured 60 of 87 votes, followed by nearby Oom Yung Doe with 24. Both schools also received great reviews.
Federal forecasters and UW weather guru Cliff Mass are predicting a mostly dry spring weekend in Woodinville.
Other cases involve storage facility break-ins, a construction site theft and a $2082 forged check.
The Marsh family was an important part of Kirkland's history, and here are two of them relaxing at a tiny cabin on their property in Houghton.
The car hit the house on 105th Place at about 10 Wednesday night.
Thirty volunteers from all over Kirkland were honored by the council after completing a 26-hour Community Emergency Response Team course.
Public and council members express concern that the plan to charge all day for parking in two busy lots will drive away visitors and customers.
Take a guided tour to see why the Kirkland park's birds and animals—eagles, swans, woodpeckers, beavers, otters, turtles—attract wildlife-watchers from all over the region.
Take a guided tour with Audubon to see why Juanita Bay Park's birds and animals -- eagles, swans, woodpeckers, beavers, otters, turtles -- attract wildlife-watchers from all over the region.
Please vote for your favorite burrito restaurant in our poll, and leave a comment and/or a review.
About 1,000 colorful and costumed participants celebrated St. Paddy's Day Saturday with the 5-kilometer run, partying afterward at several downtown restaurants. Check out the festivities in our photo gallery.
