November 2005

As the environment of public libraries begins to change to a more relaxed atmosphere, community interest in the Seattle Public Library system seems to be rising, particularly for the Ballard branch.

According to the Seattle Public Library's communication director, Andra Addison, the Ballard branch has always been the busiest of the 25 Seattle Library divisions.

At midday there, the information desk is a whirl of activity as librarian Ellen FitzGerald helps a young boy check out dinosaur books.

Families in Federal Way won't have to travel very far this holiday season to enjoy one of the most popular forms of British entertainment - the Pantomime.

For those unfamiliar with this classic theatrical experience, Pantomime, or "Panto" as it is affectionately called, dates back to the Middle Ages, and is presented by theater companies large and small across the British Isles every year in December.

Last week, an important dignitary from the Republic of Korea visited Federal Way.

Jae-Joung Lee, a Vice Prime Minister in the Korean government, is spending the month of November touring the United States in his role as senior vice president of the Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification (ACDPU).

The ACDPU was founded in 1981 to mitigate the effects of the Korean War and the division of Korea into North and South.

A collaborative effort from law enforcement agencies from King County, Des Moines, Federal Way and Tacoma continue to analyze evidence as they attempt to link a series of violent rapes throughout the area to a local suspect.

Police apprehended suspect Anthony Casper Dias, 26-year-old resident of 36202 23rd Place South, when he attempted to flee The Heights apartment complex last Tuesday morning after holding a 45-year-old woman hostage and sexually assaulting her 15 and 13-year-old daughters.

Compiled by FWN staff

1. The resident of 31602 42nd Avenue Southwest notified police that his vehicle was broken into his truck overnight while parked in his driveway. The man told officers that he noticed the driver's side door lock of his 2003 Ford was punched. The vehicle sustained no further damage, but the owner reported $70 in cash missing, as well as all of his vehicle papers and a spare set of keys to his RV.

2. Federal Way officers contacted the resident of 32130 19th Lane Southwest, #170 regarding a 911 hang-up.

To the editor:

History teaches that pacifism does not protect against threats to peace. Peace with force may not be peace, but peace without force is fragile. Peace has only been achieved by force resulting in either of two forms of peace. One form is an oppressive peace as when the German Nazis over-ran other countries or peace in freedom when oppressors are fought and suppressed as after the victory of the allied forces in World War II. Peace cannot exist without force. Peace when left to its own device dies a slow demise.

To the editor:

Re: Article entitled Memorial set for Jean Chase, beloved teacher, by Greta Mart, dated Oct. 26, 2005

First, allow me to thank you for the moving tribute to my former wife Jean Hill Chase. I do, however, want to clear up a misapprehension for the sake of her many friends and her family, namely, that Jean died "alone in the woods.'

When Larry went into a nursing home, Jean gratefully accepted the invitation from her son David Gray and his wife Ella to live with them.

I got a compact disc in the mail this week with a collection of songs done by a small band in Oregon.

It is a band led by Pat George, a gifted jazz pianist who can also play Dixieland or pop standards, backed by his daughter, Patty, on vocals and some other musicians.

The most important musician to me is the drummer in the group, Rick Ledoux, grandson of Bernie Ledoux. Bernie was a neighbor kid when I was 13 in Portland, Oregon. He and his brother Joe and cousin Poose played a lot of touch football in front of our house with me and my brother Russell.

To the editor:

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the many individuals who

supported my re-election with their votes, and especially to the dedicated group who

additionally contributed in a long list of ways: designing and addressing

mailings, writing letters, building signs, waving signs (lately in dark and rainy

weather), and providing moral and financial support. I feel blessed with the

How do Federal Way residents get in shape? An informal poll revealed last week that as the weather turns colder, membership at the health clubs around Federal Way is rising towards an all-time high. In addition to two Bally Total Fitness and a 24-Hour Fitness clubs, Federal Way hosts four gyms exclusively for women; Curves (two locations), Fit for Women and Liberty Fitness.

"We now have about 75 members," said Nancy Agostino, the owner of Liberty Fitness at 32911 1st Avenue S.