December 2005

I am writing in response to the Op-Ed article written by Karen Veloria and Doris Tevaseu in the Dec. 7 West Seattle Herald (and) White Center News.

These two ladies have made some statements that need some clarification and qualification. They are both on the Highline Unincorporated Area Council, but let's get some of the facts straight.

Karen Veloria says that more time is needed to reach the residents of the North Highline area for the study of annexation. She has been a member of the Highline Council since May 2005.

I have confidence in the voter's decision to protect employees by making all workplaces smoke-free and I trust that compliance and enforcement will be reasonably achieved.

With this new law we join the growing list of smoke-free states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

On any average Saturday, squadrons of West Seattleites armed with pruning shears and loppers quietly slip into the community's public parks to defeat invasive killer plants and liberate the native flora.

There are numerous horticultural enemies in the parks: Himalayan blackberry vines, holly, laurel, mountain ash. These so-called invasive species block the sun and shade the ground, keeping soil too wet and cold to sustain native plants.

"English ivy is by far the worst," said Ken Shaw, leader of monthly work parties in Schmitz Park and Preserve as well as Lincoln Park.

The financial picture for potential tax growth in the North Highline area is bleak for Burien, new figures given the city show.

An operating deficit could increase over the next six years.

Collected and compiled by Berk & Associates, the figures are a part of a council study to determine whether to establish a "Potential Annexation Area" including North Highline.

Scott Greenberg, Burien's community development director, said the city should expect estimated capital needs over $29 million for the area between now and 2010.

This would average abou

King County will turn Evergreen Pool in White Center over to Northwest Center next summer.

Steve Chavey, King County Parks aquatic supervisor, said the transfer will come around July l.

The move is being made as the county attempts to cut county services in urban areas.

Soon all that will remain of The Seattle Monorail Project will be a downtown conference room, four employees and a collection of properties around the city.

The monorail agency owes approximately $110 million to creditors and until the debt is paid Seattle car owners will continue to pay the car tab tax, officially the motor vehicle excise tax.

Washington State Ferries customers traveling for the holidays need only know that since both Christmas Day and New Years' Day fall on Sundays, ferries will be observing the holiday on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

The Fauntleroy/Vashon/ Southworth route will operate the regular Sunday schedule on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day and will operate a Monday schedule on Dec. 26. There will be no Seattle/Vashon passenger only service on either Monday, Dec. 26 or Monday, Jan. 2.

The Seattle/Bainbridge Island route will be on a Saturday schedule on Saturday, Dec.

West Seattle's second Indian restaurant has opened, this one in the Admiral District.

The Royal India Grill specializes in cuisine from India's northern region, where the food isn't as spicy as the southern regions, said owner Jaspal Singh. He previously worked in family-owned restaurants in Cincinnati as well as Nashua, N.H. Now his uncle, Makhan Singh, is chef at the new Admiral restaurant.

A clay oven in the kitchen, shaped like a large planting pot, has mesquite charcoal in the bottom with a grill placed across the top.

The Charles A. Kane was at sea when Class IV hurricane winds and waves hit the ship. Students at the Seattle Maritime Academy (SMA) used their training. Some inspected the vessel for damage, others prepared to lower the lifeboat in case they had to abandon ship. High winds continued to hammer the ship, washing the decks in saltwater and damaging steerage.

A manual recount of the 23,701 ballots cast on November 8, 2005 for the Federal Way School Board Position #1 revealed that Ed Barney has won the race by 23 votes.

The recount, performed on December 5, 2005 by the King County Records, Elections & Licensing Services Division, invalidated the earlier announcement that Grace Rawsthorne would be a new school board member for the current term.

"Of course, I am terribly disappointed," said Rawsthorne. "I went and watched the recount and was impressed by all the checks and balances in the system.