December 2005

I am writing this informal letter to you . . . regarding the annexation of the North Highline community for several reasons. I do this as a resident of the North Highline area and not as a representative of any group or concern. I have lived in Boulevard Park now for almost five years and have enjoyed my home and my neighborhood immensely.

Yes, I even like the airplanes that fly overhead.

The recent discussion about annexation however has left me with a negative impression about the way that this entire process is being conducted.

Some Gatewood Hill residents were hoping development of a park in their neighborhood would bring a new pedestrian pathway with it but city planners say the Orchard Street Ravine is too steep to support transverse trails.

Planners from Seattle Parks and Recreation want to build two short loop trails (less than a quarter-mile long) near the bottom of the ravine at Orchard Street and leave the steep slopes alone. They presented their proposal to about 50 residents at a public meeting at the High Point Community Center Dec.

The rising cost of construction materials forced Seattle Parks and Recreation to scale back the design of Puget Boulevard Commons, a tiny public park next to Delridge Way.

An outdoor basketball court, skateboard features and hundreds of yards of drainage pipe were eliminated from the design to bring down costs. Many of the shrubs and other landscape improvements also were reduced to save money.

The small park is being developed with money from the Pro Parks levy approved by Seattle voters in 2000.

Seattle Public Schools wants to improve their market share and increase enrollment at their schools and part of the West Seattle effort was a yellow school bus tour of four schools which focused on each school's special academic goals and programs.

"It was done as a celebration of (the schools)," said Peter Daniels, communications director for the school district.

A strong majority of West Seattle voters agreed with their fellow Seattleites to derail the monorail in last month's general election but West Seattle was only slightly more restrained in its opposition than people in the rest of the city.

While the elevated transit project went down to defeat with 64.5 percent of voters citywide saying no, 60.6 percent of voters in West Seattle wanted to push the monorail off its guideway.

There were 16,241 votes in West Seattle against the monorail and 10,550 votes for it in the Nov.

King County parks users will reach parks managers when they fill out an Internet survey at http://tellkingcountyparks.com.

Managers and staff will receive real-time survey comments about conditions, safety concerns or suggestions for additional features at nearly 20 county facilities through a brief online survey.

"This Web-based service is now the easiest way for park users to report conditions or comments for Parks staff, and the fastest way to make us aware of citizen priorities for maintenance and repairs w

The Federal Way Public Schools Winter Break has been extended to include Monday, the day after New Year's Day. At its regular board meeting on Dec. 13, the FWPS Board voted that January 2, 2006 will NOT be a school day, and May 30, 2006 will be changed to a regular school day to make up for the lost school day. School resumes on January 3rd.

The district originally developed the calendar calling for Jan. 2 to be a school day two years ago.

2. Federal Way police responded to an alarm at Quality Rentals at 34815 Pacific Highway South. Officers arrived and discovered the glass door in front of the building was destroyed. Inside, thieves took a silver Zenith television, valued at $200. Nothing else appeared to be disturbed. The glass door was valued at $500.

3. Vandals damaged two vehicles at St. Francis Hospital at 34515 9th Avenue South. The owners of the vehicles, both night shift employees of the hospital, reported that their vehicles had sustained damage to the rear windows.

The Terminator had a real-life problem. California Governor Arnold Schwarzeneger was the last line of defense in the effort to spare the life of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, a death-row inmate and co-founder of the infamous Crips gang in Southern Caliifornia.

Williams was convicted of murdering four people 26 years ago and has been on death row for many years while his case was appealed. But he reached the end of his appeal process and was put to death on Tuesday, Dec.

A number of years ago, I had a job working for a local contractor.