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 alert passerby spotted the pair hopping a fence into a yard and called police. One suspect was caught after a short chase and the other was tracked down by the Kirkland Police K9 unit.
An alert passerby spotted the pair hopping a fence into a yard and called police. One suspect was caught after a short chase, and the other was tracked down by the Kirkland Police K9 unit.
Other cases include two daytime burglaries and a Lake Washington student busted for pot.
The King County Public Health agency has ordered Kami Teriyaki closed after a sewer backup, but the owner says it is being fixed and he will reopen Tuesday.
The Kirkland Kiwanis-affiliated Juanita High Key Club is organizing the drive to benefit a Helen Keller Elementary program that feeds kids in need on weekends.
Stone Gossard gets down and dirty during the band-funded project to restore the native forest at Kirkland's Crestwoods Park.
You can now follow the district on social media to get the latest on what's happening with the schools in your neighborhood.
Stone Gossard gets down and dirty during the band-funded project to restore the native forest at Kirkland's Crestwoods Park.
Leadership Eastside says the area has more work to do to meet the needs of the community.
Last month's snow delayed work about a week.
City Council Members Amy Walen and Dave Asher ask residents to chime in on how to pay for the "Kirkland Segment" of the Eastside Rail Corridor.
Local Community Emergency Response trainees will sharpen their triage skills during a simulated disaster on March 4.
Dakota Miles Wolf will likely face a court-martial on charges of assault and being AWOL before being turned over to King County to face murder charges in the death of Kirkland's Scarlett Paxton.
Dakota Miles Wolf will likely face a court-martial on charges of assault and being AWOL before being turned over to King County to face murder charges in the death of Kirkland's Scarlett Paxton.
Kirkland City Manager Kurt Triplett says it makes sense to study the city's overall fire and building needs before deciding on where to put a new, centralized Finn Hill station.
Other cases involve a grandpa angry at his drug-abusing son and a thief interrupted while trying to steal chrome wheels.
The city and Kirkland Heritage Society are teaming up to help keep Kirkland's fascinating history alive, with signs and banners at historic locations.
The Kirkland Downtown Association is creating a 5-kilomter fun run for the Eastside on March 17 -- the same day as Seattle's hugely popular St. Patrick's Day Dash.
Anthony Shindler of Bothell pleaded guilty to armed robbery and will be sentenced Feb. 16.
Take a guided tour to see why Juanita Bay Park's birds and animals -- eagles, swans, woodpeckers, beavers, otters, turtles -- attract wildlife-watchers from all over the region.
