Being a native of Kirkland, I love the changes that have occurred there and find it charming and livable.

Kirkland still feels like “my Kirkland,” as charming as ever, lacking only the “Cannery” where my sister and I spent countless hours each summer canning the string beans (with our mother) from grandma’s garden.

Someday I would like to again be a citizen of Kirkland, live in a downtown condo, where I can walk to the library, Kirkland Performance Center, senior center, public pool, grocery store, my favorite yoga studio, a public park on Lake Washington and to a Metro bus station.

The Kirkland Fourth of July children’s parade every year reminds me of my sister and brother and I walking the street with our tricycle and little red wagon, feeling very important, indeed, some 55-60 years ago.

Kirkland is still Kirkland.  I don’t know the political persuasion of all the people involved this election year, or the real reasons for the current political mud slinging, but I do know a lot of the wonderful and giving things Bob Sternoff has done through the years to help keep Kirkland such a great place to live.

I hope that Bob has the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Kirkland as one of its council members.

Carol Lincoln Thomas, Bellevue