DON’T rush to judgment on the City of Gig Harbor’s decision this week to close Canterwood Boulevard for up to three months.

Did you read about Purdy Elementary third-grader Hailey Bergren last week? She won first place in a regional science fair and a Special Award from the U.S. Surgeon General.

Maybe I’m becoming an old fogey prematurely, but I’m fed up with the poor customer service offered by many businesses. Indeed, “fed up” doesn’t even begin to sum up my feelings.

Think of the five people you most admire, or go check a list of Fortune 500 company CEOs, senators or Rhodes Scholars. Most probably didn’t attend a name-brand college. Their strengths flow from other sources.

Dear Readers: It’s your lucky day. Today’s column gives you two thoughts for the price of one.

THE greatest tragedy in Crystal Judson Brame’s death five years ago was that she had already taken legal, social and emotional steps to separate herself from her husband, Tacoma Police Chief David Brame. Although her family and friends had supported and protected her throughout the separation process, that support was undermined by Brame’s position of power.

SHOULD a property owner be able to rely on an existing community development plan for the future enjoyment of their neighborhood? Should someone buying into an area zoned residential have a right to expect it to remain residential forever?

Imagine Bambi weeping in fear. Normal people would find this sight pretty sad, unless, of course, you’re my neighbor, who would find it quite hilarious, especially once he ran over Bambi with his steamroller.

If not for the towering remains of gravel-sorting bins that look like ruins from a lost civilization, it would be nearly impossible to tell the former life of the Chambers Creek Properties.

Raising children has never been easy. Every generation of parents has struggled with some new danger or stress in their children’s lives, although lately it seems like the challenges are accumulating.

THREE areas of the Urban Growth Area surrounding the City of Gig Harbor have recently petitioned to become part of the city, and — this time, at least — it makes perfect sense to expand city limits to include them.

SATURDAY’S historic photo-scanning party at the Gig Harbor Civic Center served as an important reminder to a newer generation of Gig Harbor residents. There’s always important aspects of history, but moreso when it’s your own town.

Earlier this month, hundreds of people participated in community outreach events sponsored by the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs in Kitsap County. These events were held to honor our veterans for their service and focused on how we can support military families and veterans.

WHILE watching the Super Bowl earlier this year, I couldn’t help but marvel at the wonderful examples of workplace relations being set by the top two organizations in American football.

Our weather just can’t seem to make up its mind! However, I have it on good authority that we are supposed to have a much dryer May, June and July than those to which we have become accustomed.

THE Peninsula Light Co. kepts its members in mind this week when it accepted a $2 million settlement from Bonneville Power Administration. PenLight, along with other utilities based in the Northwest, had filed a federal lawsuit against BPA because of how charges were calculated from the Residential Exchange Program.

NOW that Key Peninsula Fire Commissioner Allen Yanity has been convicted of fourth-degree assault following the coffee mug incident last April, we hope the feud between Yanity and fellow Fire Commissioner Jim Bosch can come to a standstill — at least until they’re finished with their public duty.

My mother and brother and I had just come back from one of my mother’s work events. She unlocked the door and walked up the stairs, and I followed her in.

I’m writing in response to the story on geoduck farming in The Peninsula Gateway (April 9, Neighbors). Although a great deal has been reported about this issue recently, the human side of the story about geoducks and shellfish farming in the Puget Sound has yet to be told.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” –– Yogi Berra

THE state Transportation Commission continued accepting recommendations made by the Citizen Advisory Committee on Monday, agreeing that toll rates should indeed increase by $1 beginning July 1 — and concluding that a discount for Good to Go! customers should continue.

RANDALL Nozawa has moved on with his life, but he still remembers the March morning last year when he was shot in the head by John “Williams” Branden. It took months for Nozawa to recover from his wounds — emotional as well as physical — but Branden mortally wounded himself that morning along with Turid Bentley.

Following are letters to the Editor as published in the Peninsula Gateway, April 9, 2008.

Whose space is Myspace, anyway? If I ask my daughters, it’s just a place for their friends to visit.

For the past 10 years, the city’s infrastructure needs (roads, sewer and water) have been outpaced by regional growth and development.