Dori Monson
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Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.Snohomish County libraries explain Easter closure
on March 21, 2013 @ 2:33 pm (Updated: 1:45 pm - 3/22/13 )
Listener Dick went to a Snohomish County library this week and saw a sign saying it "would be closed Sunday, March 31 due to traditionally low traffic on this day."
KIRO Radio's Dori Monson wonders why the library just can't come out and say "Closed on Easter."
"Could it be because that's the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of their Lord? What's the word we use for that day?"
But Ken Harvey, Communications Director for Sno-Isle Libraries, says the whole thing is "probably just an unintentional misunderstanding."
He explains that the board of trustees took action in 2002 on closing the libraries on Easter Sunday even though it's not an official government holiday.
"It's historically, the least busy Sunday of the entire year," says Harvey.
The library has been closed every Easter Sunday since then, but Harvey says some residents were wondering why a public institution was closing for a religious holiday.
"Rather than actually just saying the word "Easter" in a holiday closure, we would put the reason why we were closing, which was for business reasons."
"I think everyone gets the reason it's a low use day is because it's Easter Sunday," said Monson, who's not upset, but he just "finds it amusing how shackled government seems by political correctness."
"We're trying to find this middle ground so that we're not unintentionally communicating a misunderstanding," says Harvey.
"You're closed because it's Easter, why can't you just say it," Dori wonders. "Who cares if some morons are upset by that?"
"We found that that direct communication often communicated a misunderstanding as well," says Harvey. He adds that employees are actually not discouraged to use the word "Easter" or the name of any other holiday, "this was just a matter of helping people understand the business reason why we would not be open."
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
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Papoon wrote...moronMarch 21, 2013 3:13 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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Cash wrote...Interesting Papoon...March 21, 2013 3:17 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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FormerMarineSgt wrote...@PapoonMarch 21, 2013 6:57 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Ontos wrote...Despite his defense of the faith...March 22, 2013 11:01 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Clearwater3 wrote..."Some morons"?March 21, 2013 3:22 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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itiswhatitis wrote...Sometimes being Politically Correct is way too muchMarch 21, 2013 3:26 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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FormerMarineSgt wrote...itiswahtitis - "I bet most stores will be closed on Easter "March 22, 2013 7:47 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Ontos wrote...Itiswhatitis said: "...used to coexists (sic.) quite well...'"March 22, 2013 10:55 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Zoeller wrote..."probably just an unintentional misunderstanding."March 21, 2013 3:32 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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ron prevost wrote...What is stupidly inconsistant is that while Easter is not named,March 21, 2013 5:11 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Ontos wrote...Dori's a shallow thinker.March 22, 2013 10:56 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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cdbtx wrote...Well DoriMarch 22, 2013 5:32 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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FormerMarineSgt wrote...@cdbtx...March 22, 2013 7:52 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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diamondmask wrote...Much ado about nothing.March 22, 2013 10:09 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Jeff Schroeder wrote...The simple truth of the matter...March 22, 2013 10:31 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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boyerbl wrote...Candy and bunniesMarch 22, 2013 10:55 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Ontos wrote...Who's "they"?March 22, 2013 10:59 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Russell wrote...Easter was...March 23, 2013 2:37 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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soo purletiv wrote...@ RussellMarch 24, 2013 3:09 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Russell wrote...; )March 24, 2013 3:33 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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SeattleNative wrote...So traffic is traditionally low on Sunday, March 31?March 22, 2013 11:23 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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