November 2005

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council members gave a preliminary recommendation on Nov. 3 that North Highline annex to Burien.

Ten council members approved the recommendation with Doris Tevaseu opposed and Karen Veloria abstaining.

The recommendation came despite protests from some audience members, who asked council members to postpone a decision.

They said North Highline residents have not had enough time to study annexation or incorporation as a separate city.

Times/News

I'm proud to be an American

where at least I know I'm free,

And I won't forget the men who

died who gave that right to me,

And I gladly stand up next to you

and defend her still today....

"God Bless the USA"

by Lee Greenwood

It was the best flight I've been on - ever.

Maggie Steenrod is an honest person who cares about people and cares about the City of Des Moines. As long as I have known Maggie, which has been 15-plus years, she has been a person who works hard in serving others.

She founded the non-profit Des Moines Dollars for Scholars. She has been in charge of the St. Vincent de Paul in this area for many years and has run a private business successfully.

Maggie Steenrod wants to make Des Moines the great city it should be. She wants to make getting building permits easier.

I was called for jury duty recently. The defendant was a Mexican with a DUI. He had to have an interpreter. (How did he get his license?) They called 25-30 people [for jury duty]. This is a waste of tax money. A judge could handle this.

But the last straw was when I received a notice, by the city of Burien, of a meeting at Sylvester Middle School on Oct. 26. One side of the notice was in English and the other in Spanish.

Now I have lived in Burien since the streetcar went to Seahurst. I have paid money in taxes for schools, roads, sewers, etc.

Special to the Times/News

The calendar says it's officially autumn, so it's time to pick up some of the gardening chores left behind from summer's heat.

Now is the time to renovate the lawn - if you really have to have one. Select grass seed that fits the location - sun, shade or a combination thereof.

Remember to keep the seed bed moist. Grass seed needs light to germinate so don't cover more than 1/2 inch.

Fall drought is common in Puget Sound, so keep the hose handy: recently transplanted evergreens will need to be watered regularly.

Publisher

I decided to remove the green patina from the mermaid who has lived in our hot tub for 20 years, so I took a wire brush and labored for half an hour before a friend dropped by and told me I was destroying her.

"A mermaid is supposed to be green," he said. Huh?

I slapped myself in the forehead several times, then called Phil Levine, Highline's world famous sculptor.

The Times/News will publish on Wednesday, Nov. 16, complete updated results of Highline-area races in the Nov.

The city of SeaTac's code enforcement staff has developed a new Neighborhood Grant Program to provide resident groups with matching funds for neighborhood improvement projects.

The program is designed to encourage neighbors to work together towards a common goal to improve and beautify their neighborhoods.

Their efforts will show people care about their neighborhood and may help in reducing local crime, according to city staff.

Examples of potential grant programs include identity signage for neighborhood entry points, curb side garbage clean up day and landsca

A recent appellate ruling that Des Moines businessman Gary Petersen has no conflict of interest while serving on that city's council will be taken to the state Supreme Court.

Last month, the state Court of Appeals affirmed its prior ruling that Petersen is not in violation of state conflict of interest laws governing elected officials.

I write this letter to point out something very important missing from Southwest 152nd Street nearest Ambaum Boulevard Southwest. It is the disabled access on the south side of the street.

There is no "lip" or ramp for people to use, nor is there even a disabled parking spot on that side of the street.