John Taylor

Yakima

Opinion Page Editor at Yakima Herald-Republic

Writer, editor, journalism fan. Opinions are my own.

Articles

Column: Keep America's memory alive for your grandchildren

2 months ago | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

I received a jarring note from a longtime reader of the Yakima Herald-Republic the other day. “You should write an editorial telling readers to write down what it was like when we still lived in a democracy,” he wrote. “Grandkids will be growing up in a dictatorship.”Like I said, it was jarring. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve begun to fear that at this juncture — barely a month into Donald Trump’s second term as president — it might be a practical idea.
Column: If you want to put America first, vote for Harris

Nov 1, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

Like thousands of my colleagues around the world, I became a journalist for some pretty tame reasons. Though I entered the field a few years after the courageous reporting of The Washington Post helped bring about the resignation of a corrupt president in 1974, I held no illusions. I was no Bob Woodward, no Carl Bernstein — the two Post reporters whose dogged pursuit of the facts in the ugly Watergate scandal led to the political downfall of Richard M. Nixon. And I was fine with that.
Viera's Bakery & Deli: It's all about what customers like

Oct 4, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

Mario Viera is savoring two sweet wins in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards. His shop, Viera’s Bakery & Deli, came out on top in the Bakery category and in the Minority-Owned Business category. “It’s nice — really nice,” he said in an interview a few days after the awards ceremony. “The recognition.”You could say the awards are the icing on the cake for Viera, who started the bakery at 516 W. Lincoln Ave. six years ago after growing up around his father’s two bakeries in the Tri-Cities.
Notes: More choices - and more votes - in this year's Readers' Choice Awards

Oct 4, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

If voting in this year's Readers' Choice is any indication, Yakima County Auditor's Office had better get ready to count a lot of ballots for next month’s general election. Because when all was said and done, the Yakima Herald-Republic's annual survey of the region's favorite places, professionals and events drew more than 80,000 votes this time around — that’s about 15,000 more than last year. And voters had lots more to consider.
SERVPRO of Yakima: It's all about the community, all about people

Oct 4, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

If you spill your Merlot at dinner, some club soda should help you save the carpet. But if a pipe freezes and breaks in your basement, spewing water — or something worse — all over your floor and walls, you might want to get hold of a pro. And according to voters in our annual Readers’ Choice polling, if that’s the kind of trouble you’re up against, your best bet might be SERVPRO of Yakima. The newest SERVPRO office in Snohomish-based Leavens Enterprises Inc.
YWCA Yakima: It's all about security and compassion

Oct 4, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

Long a community mainstay, YWCA Yakima has been a beacon of strength, inspiration and hope for women across Central Washington since its 1909 founding. Offering secure emergency and transitional housing for people experiencing domestic violence, the YWCA is in the home stretch of a campaign to significantly expand its space and its services. In a county where the domestic violence rate is nearly double the statewide average, YWCA Yakima takes more than 1,000 calls per month on its 24/7 hotline.
Notes: In celebration of cultural traditions and family bonds

Sep 6, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

One of my favorite things about this edition’s theme — Hispanic heritage — is the emphasis on family and traditions. Because it doesn’t matter what your family’s background is, everybody’s has some traditions. Growing up, one of my family’s was the simple custom of homemade pancakes every Sunday morning. My mother would cook them on a long grill that she’d warm up and grease with bacon, singing absent-mindedly the whole time.
Former Yakima County Commissioner Ron Anderson leaves a legacy of community service

Sep 2, 2024 | thenewstribune.com | John Taylor

You had to get up pretty early to beat Ron Anderson to the punch. On a typical morning, the former Yakima County commissioner and longtime local real estate broker was in his element. Starting hours before most of the Valley was stirring, Anderson would be relentlessly firing off emails to dozens of friends, acquaintances, colleagues, political allies - or maybe political foes.
Former Yakima County Commissioner Ron Anderson leaves a legacy of community service

Sep 2, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

You had to get up pretty early to beat Ron Anderson to the punch. On a typical morning, the former Yakima County commissioner and longtime local real estate broker was in his element. Starting hours before most of the Valley was stirring, Anderson would be relentlessly firing off emails to dozens of friends, acquaintances, colleagues, political allies — or maybe political foes.
Note: Yakima Valley's women are getting things done

Aug 30, 2024 | yakimaherald.com | John Taylor

In a year when the United States could very well elect its first female president, women have been in the headlines as much, or more, than ever lately. Given some of the legal, political and social developments of the past few years, that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Besides, they’re in the majority in this country. Why shouldn’t they get more press? Be that as it may, we’ll leave all the nationwide headlines to the national media for the moment.